Compositions and methods for modification of biomolecules

ABSTRACT

Provided are modified cycloalkyne compounds; and methods of use of such compounds in modifying biomolecules. Embodiments include a cycloaddition reaction that can be carried out under physiological conditions. The cycloaddition reaction involves reacting a modified cycloalkyne with an azide moiety on a target biomolecule, generating a covalently modified biomolecule. The selectivity of the reaction and its compatibility with aqueous environments provide for its application in vivo and in vitro.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/304,208, filed Feb. 12, 2010, which application isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made with government support under Grant No. GM058867awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certainrights in the invention.

INTRODUCTION

Selective chemical reactions that are orthogonal (e.g., do not interactor interfere with biology) to the diverse functionality of biologicalsystems are now recognized as important tools in chemical biology. Asrelative newcomers to the repertoire of synthetic chemistry, thesebioorthogonal reactions have inspired new strategies for compoundlibrary synthesis, protein engineering, functional proteomics, andchemical remodeling of cell surfaces. The azide has secured a prominentrole as a unique chemical handle for bioconjugation.

The azide group has an alternative mode of bioorthogonal reactivity: the[3+2] cycloaddition with alkynes described by Huisgen. In its classicform, this reaction has limited applicability in biological systems dueto the requirement of elevated temperatures (or pressures) forreasonable reaction rates. Sharpless and coworkers surmounted thisobstacle with the development of a copper(I)-catalyzed version, termed“click chemistry,” that proceeds readily at physiological temperaturesand in richly functionalized biological environs. This discovery hasenabled the selective modification of virus particles, nucleic acids,and proteins from complex tissue lysates. Unfortunately, the mandatorycopper catalyst is toxic to both bacterial and mammalian cells, thusprecluding applications wherein the cells must remain viable.Catalyst-free Huisgen cycloadditions of alkynes activated byelectron-withdrawing substituents have been reported to occur at ambienttemperatures. However, these compounds undergo Michael reaction withbiological nucleophiles.

SUMMARY

Provided are modified cycloalkyne compounds; and methods of use of suchcompounds in modifying biomolecules. Embodiments include a cycloadditionreaction that can be carried out under physiological conditions. Thecycloaddition reaction involves reacting a modified cycloalkyne with anazide moiety on a target biomolecule, generating a covalently modifiedbiomolecule. The selectivity of the reaction and its compatibility withaqueous environments provide for its application in vivo (e.g., on thecell surface or intracellularly) and in vitro (e.g., synthesis ofpeptides and other polymers, production of modified (e.g., labeled)amino acids).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a graph of the rate of reaction between BARAC (compound 15)and benzyl azide over time according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a graph of the rate of reaction between BARAC (compound 15)and 2-azido-N-isopropylacetamide over time according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a graph of the dose dependence of BARAC-biotin (compound16) according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4( a)-(h) shows forward-scatter and side-scatter plots for celllabeling experiments according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a graph of a cytotoxicity analysis of BARAC-biotin(compound 16) according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6( a)-(d) shows FL3 vs. FL1 scatter plots for the flow cytometryexperiments described in FIG. 5 according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 shows analytical HPLC graphs of purified BARAC-Fluor according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8( a)-(c) show: structures of BARAC-biotin (compound 16) andBARAC-Fluor (compound 17) (FIG. 8A); and incorporation of the compoundsinto living cells (FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C).

FIG. 9( a)-(p) shows fluorescence imaging of azide-labeled glycans onlive cells using BARAC-Fluor (compound 17) according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIGS. 10( a) and (b) show: a scheme of a bioorthogonal reaction ofcyclooctyne probes with azide-labeled biomolecules that allows theirinterrogation in cell-based systems according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure (FIG. 10A); and the structures of compounds 1-4 (FIG.10B).

FIG. 11 shows a scheme for the 6-step synthesis of a BARAC derivativefrom compound 9 and the labeling of an azide-labeled biomolecule withthe BARAC derivative.

FIG. 12 shows the crystal structure of BARAC.

FIG. 13 shows second order rate constants for the cycloaddition of BARACanalogs with benzyl azide.

Before the present invention is further described, it is to beunderstood that this invention is not limited to particular embodimentsdescribed, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understoodthat the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describingparticular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, sincethe scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appendedclaims.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that eachintervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lowerlimit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in thatstated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lowerlimits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in thesmaller ranges, and are also encompassed within the invention, subjectto any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the statedrange includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either orboth of those included limits are also included in the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also beused in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferredmethods and materials are now described. All publications mentionedherein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe themethods and/or materials in connection with which the publications arecited.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “anazacycloalkynone compound” includes a plurality of such compounds andreference to “the azide moiety” includes reference to one or more azidemoieties and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, andso forth. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to excludeany optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve asantecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,”“only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements,or use of a “negative” limitation.

The publications discussed herein are provided solely for theirdisclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothingherein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention isnot entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention.Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from theactual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.

Definitions

By “reactive partner” is meant a molecule or molecular moiety thatspecifically reacts with another reactive partner. Exemplary reactivepartners are those of the reaction of the invention, i.e., an azidegroup of an azide-modified target molecule and the cycloalkyne group ofa modified cycloalkyne moiety.

As used herein the term “isolated” is meant to describe a compound ofinterest that is in an environment different from that in which thecompound naturally occurs. “Isolated” is meant to include compounds thatare within samples that are substantially enriched for the compound ofinterest and/or in which the compound of interest is partially orsubstantially purified.

As used herein, the term “substantially purified” refers to a compoundthat is removed from its natural environment or its syntheticenvironment and is at least 60% free, at least 75% free, at least 90%free, at least 95% free, at least 98% free, or at least 99% free fromother components with which it is naturally associated, or is at least60% free, at least 75% free, at least 90% free, at least 95% free, atleast 98% free, or at least 99% free from contaminants associated withsynthesis of the compound.

As used herein, the term “cell” in the context of the in vivoapplications of the invention is meant to encompass eukaryotic andprokaryotic cells of any genus or species, with mammalian cells being ofparticular interest. “Cell” is also meant to encompass both normal cellsand diseased cells, e.g., cancerous cells. In many embodiments, thecells are living cells.

The terms “polypeptide” and “protein,” used interchangeably herein,refer to a polymeric form of amino acids of any length, which caninclude coded and non-coded amino acids, chemically or biochemicallymodified or derivatized amino acids, and polypeptides having modifiedpeptide backbones. The term includes fusion proteins, including, but notlimited to, fusion proteins with a heterologous amino acid sequence,fusions with heterologous and homologous leader sequences, with orwithout N-terminal methionine residues; immunologically tagged proteins;and the like.

The term “physiological conditions” is meant to encompass thoseconditions compatible with living cells, e.g., predominantly aqueousconditions of a temperature, pH, salinity, etc. that are compatible withliving cells.

The term “aryl” as used herein means 5- and 6-membered single-aromaticradicals which may include from zero to four heteroatoms. Representativearyls include phenyl, thienyl, furanyl, pyridinyl, (is)oxazoyl and thelike.

The term “lower alkyl”, alone or in combination, generally means anacyclic alkyl radical containing from 1 to about 10, e.g., from 1 toabout 8 carbon atoms, or from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms. Examples ofsuch radicals include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl,isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, iso-amyl, hexyl, octyl and thelike.

The term “aliphatic group” means a saturated or unsaturated linear orbranched hydrocarbon group and encompasses alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynylgroups, for example. The term “alkyl group” means a substituted orunsubstituted, saturated linear or branched hydrocarbon group or chain(e.g., C₁ to C₈) including, for example, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl,tert-butyl, heptyl, iso-propyl, n-octyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, amyl,2-ethylhexyl, and the like. Suitable substituents include carboxy,protected carboxy, amino, protected amino, halo, hydroxy, protectedhydroxy, nitro, cyano, monosubstituted amino, protected monosubstitutedamino, disubstituted amino, C₁ to C₇ alkoxy, C₁ to C₇ acyl, C₁ to C₇acyloxy, and the like. The term “substituted alkyl” means the abovedefined alkyl group substituted from one to three times by a hydroxy,protected hydroxy, amino, protected amino, cyano, halo, trifloromethyl,mono-substituted amino, di-substituted amino, lower alkoxy, loweralkylthio, carboxy, protected carboxy, or a carboxy, amino, and/orhydroxy salt. As used in conjunction with the substituents for theheteroaryl rings, the terms “substituted (cycloalkyl)alkyl” and“substituted cycloalkyl” are as defined below substituted with the samegroups as listed for a “substituted alkyl” group. The term “alkenylgroup” means an unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon group withone or more carbon-carbon double bonds, such as a vinyl group. The term“alkynyl group” means an unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbongroup with one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds. The term “cyclicgroup” means a closed ring hydrocarbon group that is classified as analicyclic group, aromatic group, or heterocyclic group. The term“alicyclic group” means a cyclic hydrocarbon group having propertiesresembling those of aliphatic groups. The term “aromatic group” or “arylgroup” means a mono- or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon group, and mayinclude one or more heteroatoms, and which are further defined below.The term “heterocyclic group” means a closed ring hydrocarbon in whichone or more of the atoms in the ring are an element other than carbon(e.g., nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, etc.), and are further defined below.

The terms “halo” and “halogen” refer to the fluoro, chloro, bromo oriodo groups. There can be one or more halogen, which are the same ordifferent.

The term “haloalkyl” refers to an alkyl group as defined above that issubstituted by one or more halogen atoms. The halogen atoms may be thesame or different. The term “dihaloalkyl ” refers to an alkyl group asdescribed above that is substituted by two halo groups, which may be thesame or different. The term “trihaloalkyl” refers to an alkyl group asdescribe above that is substituted by three halo groups, which may bethe same or different. The term “perhaloalkyl” refers to a haloalkylgroup as defined above wherein each hydrogen atom in the alkyl group hasbeen replaced by a halogen atom. The term “perfluoroalkyl” refers to ahaloalkyl group as defined above wherein each hydrogen atom in the alkylgroup has been replaced by a fluoro group.

The term “cycloalkyl” means a mono-, bi-, or tricyclic saturated ringthat is fully saturated or partially unsaturated. Examples of such agroup included cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl,cycloheptyl, adamantyl, cyclooctyl, cis- or trans decalin,bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, cyclohex-1-enyl, cyclopent-1-enyl,1,4-cyclooctadienyl, and the like.

The term “(cycloalkyl)alkyl” means the above-defined alkyl groupsubstituted for one of the above cycloalkyl rings. Examples of such agroup include (cyclohexyl)methyl, 3-(cyclopropyl)-n-propyl,5-(cyclopentyl)hexyl, 6-(adamantyl)hexyl, and the like.

The term “substituted phenyl” specifies a phenyl group substituted withone or more moieties, and in some instances one, two, or three moieties,chosen from the groups consisting of halogen, hydroxy, protectedhydroxy, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ to C₇ alkyl, C₁ to C₇ alkoxy,C₁ to C₇ acyl, C₁ to C₇ acyloxy, carboxy, oxycarboxy, protected carboxy,carboxymethyl, protected carboxymethyl, hydroxymethyl, protectedhydroxymethyl, amino, protected amino, (monosubstituted)amino, protected(monosubstituted)amino, (disubstituted)amino, carboxamide, protectedcarboxamide, N—(C₁ to C₆ alkyl)carboxamide, protected N—(C₁ to C₆alkyl)carboxamide, N,N-di(C₁ to C₆ alkyl)carboxamide, trifluoromethyl,N—((C₁ to C₆ alkyl)sulfonyl)amino, N-(phenylsulfonyl)amino or phenyl,substituted or unsubstituted, such that, for example, a biphenyl ornaphthyl group results.

Examples of the term “substituted phenyl” includes a mono- ordi(halo)phenyl group such as 2, 3 or 4-chlorophenyl, 2,6-dichlorophenyl,2,5-dichlorophenyl, 3,4-dichlorophenyl, 2, 3 or 4-bromophenyl,3,4-dibromophenyl, 3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl, 2, 3 or 4-fluorophenyl andthe like; a mono or di(hydroxy)phenyl group such as 2, 3, or4-hydroxyphenyl, 2,4-dihydroxyphenyl, the protected-hydroxy derivativesthereof and the like; a nitrophenyl group such as 2, 3, or4-nitrophenyl; a cyanophenyl group, for example, 2, 3 or 4-cyanophenyl;a mono- or di(alkyl)phenyl group such as 2, 3, or 4-methylphenyl,2,4-dimethylphenyl, 2, 3 or 4-(iso-propyl)phenyl, 2, 3, or4-ethylphenyl, 2, 3 or 4-(n-propyl)phenyl and the like; a mono ordi(alkoxy)phenyl group, for example, 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl, 2, 3 or4-(isopropoxy)phenyl, 2, 3 or 4-(t-butoxy)phenyl,3-ethoxy-4-methoxyphenyl and the like; 2, 3 or 4-trifluoromethylphenyl;a mono- or dicarboxyphenyl or (protected carboxy)phenyl group such as 2,3 or 4-carboxyphenyl or 2,4-di(protected carboxy)phenyl; a mono- ordi(hydroxymethyl)phenyl or (protected hydroxymethyl)phenyl such as 2, 3or 4-(protected hydroxymethyl)phenyl or 3,4-di(hydroxymethyl)phenyl; amono- or di(aminomethyl)phenyl or (protected aminomethyl)phenyl such as2, 3 or 4-(aminomethyl)phenyl or 2,4-(protected aminomethyl)phenyl; or amono- or di(N-(methylsulfonylamino))phenyl such as 2, 3 or4-(N-(methylsulfonylamino))phenyl. Also, the term “substituted phenyl”represents disubstituted phenyl groups wherein the substituents aredifferent, for example, 3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl,3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-4-bromophenyl,4-ethyl-2-hydroxyphenyl, 3-hydroxy-4-nitrophenyl,2-hydroxy-4-chlorophenyl and the like.

The term “(substituted phenyl)alkyl” means one of the above substitutedphenyl groups attached to one of the above-described alkyl groups.Examples of include such groups as 2-phenyl-1-chloroethyl,2-(4′-methoxyphenyl)ethyl, 4-(2′,6′-dihydroxy phenyl)n-hexyl,2-(5′-cyano-3′-methoxyphenyl)n-pentyl, 3-(2′,6′-dimethylphenyl)n-propyl,4-chloro-3-aminobenzyl, 6-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxy(n-hexyl),5-(4′-aminomethylphenyl)-3-(aminomethyl)n-pentyl,5-phenyl-3-oxo-n-pent-1-yl, (4-hydroxynapth-2-yl)methyl and the like.

As noted above, the term “aromatic” or “aryl” refers to six memberedcarbocyclic rings. Also as noted above, the term “heteroaryl” denotesoptionally substituted five-membered or six-membered rings that have 1to 4 heteroatoms, such as oxygen, sulfur and/or nitrogen atoms, inparticular nitrogen, either alone or in conjunction with sulfur oroxygen ring atoms.

Furthermore, the above optionally substituted five-membered orsix-membered rings can optionally be fused to an aromatic 5-membered or6-membered ring system. For example, the rings can be optionally fusedto an aromatic 5-membered or 6-membered ring system such as a pyridineor a triazole system, e.g., to a benzene ring.

The following ring systems are examples of the heterocyclic (whethersubstituted or unsubstituted) radicals denoted by the term “heteroaryl”:thienyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl, isoxazolyl,triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, tetrazolyl, thiatriazolyl,oxatriazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, oxazinyl,triazinyl, thiadiazinyl tetrazolo, 1,5-[b]pyridazinyl and purinyl, aswell as benzo-fused derivatives, for example, benzoxazolyl,benzthiazolyl, benzimidazolyl and indolyl.

Substituents for the above optionally substituted heteroaryl rings arefrom one to three halo, trihalomethyl, amino, protected amino, aminosalts, mono-substituted amino, di-substituted amino, carboxy, protectedcarboxy, carboxylate salts, hydroxy, protected hydroxy, salts of ahydroxy group, lower alkoxy, lower alkylthio, alkyl, substituted alkyl,cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, substituted(cycloalkyl)alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, phenylalkyl, and(substituted phenyl)alkyl. Substituents for the heteroaryl group are asheretofore defined, or in the case of trihalomethyl, can betrifluoromethyl, trichloromethyl, tribromomethyl, or triiodomethyl. Asused in conjunction with the above substituents for heteroaryl rings,“lower alkoxy” means a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy group, similarly, “loweralkylthio” means a C₁ to C₄ alkylthio group.

The term “(monosubstituted)amino” refers to an amino group with onesubstituent chosen from the group consisting of phenyl, substitutedphenyl, alkyl, substituted alkyl, C₁ to C₄ acyl, C₂ to C₇ alkenyl, C₂ toC₇ substituted alkenyl, C₂ to C₇ alkynyl, C₇ to C₁₆ alkylaryl, C₇ to C₁₆substituted alkylaryl and heteroaryl group. The (monosubstituted)aminocan additionally have an amino-protecting group as encompassed by theterm “protected (monosubstituted)amino.” The term “(disubstituted)amino”refers to amino groups with two substituents chosen from the groupconsisting of phenyl, substituted phenyl, alkyl, substituted alkyl, C₁to C₇ acyl, C₂ to C₇ alkenyl, C₂ to C₇ alkynyl, C₇ to C₁₆ alkylaryl, C₇to C₁₆ substituted alkylaryl and heteroaryl. The two substituents can bethe same or different.

The term “heteroaryl(alkyl)” denotes an alkyl group as defined above,substituted at any position by a heteroaryl group, as above defined.

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event,circumstance, feature, or element may, but need not, occur, and that thedescription includes instances where the event or circumstance occursand instances in which it does not. For example, “heterocyclo groupoptionally mono- or di- substituted with an alkyl group” means that thealkyl may, but need not, be present, and the description includessituations where the heterocyclo group is mono- or disubstituted with analkyl group and situations where the heterocyclo group is notsubstituted with the alkyl group.

Compounds that have the same molecular formula but differ in the natureor sequence of bonding of their atoms or the arrangement of their atomsin space are termed “isomers.” Isomers that differ in the arrangement oftheir atoms in space are termed “stereoisomers.” Stereoisomers that arenot mirror images of one another are termed “diastereomers” and thosethat are non-superimposable mirror images of each other are termed“enantiomers.” When a compound has an asymmetric center, for example, itis bonded to four different groups, a pair of enantiomers is possible.An enantiomer can be characterized by the absolute configuration of itsasymmetric center and is described by the R- and S-sequencing rules ofCalm and Prelog, or by the manner in which the molecule rotates theplane of polarized light and designated as dextrorotatory orlevorotatory (i.e., as (+) or (−)-isomers respectively). A chiralcompound can exist as either individual enantiomer or as a mixturethereof. A mixture containing equal proportions of the enantiomers iscalled a “racemic mixture.”

The compounds of this invention may possess one or more asymmetriccenters; such compounds can therefore be produced as individual (R)- or(S)-stereoisomers or as mixtures thereof. Unless indicated otherwise,the description or naming of a particular compound in the specificationand claims is intended to include both individual enantiomers andmixtures, racemic or otherwise, thereof. The methods for thedetermination of stereochemistry and the separation of stereoisomers arewell-known in the art (see, e.g., the discussion in Chapter 4 of“Advanced Organic Chemistry”, 4th edition J. March, John Wiley and Sons,New York, 1992).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure feature a strain-promoted [3+2]cycloaddition reaction that can be carried out under physiologicalconditions. A modified cycloalkyne may be reacted with an azide moietyon a biomolecule, generating a covalently modified biomolecule. Theselectivity of the reaction and its compatibility with aqueousenvironments provides for its application in vivo (e.g., on the cellsurface or intracellularly) and in vitro (e.g., synthesis of peptidesand other polymers, production of modified (e.g., labeled) amino acids).In certain embodiments, the reaction is compatible with modification ofliving cells.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and compositions forspecifically and efficiently synthetically modifying cellular componentsin an aqueous environment. In some cases, the subject methods andcompositions provide for modification of cellular components on or inliving cells. Reactive partners may be used that are completely abioticand are chemically orthogonal to native cellular components. In certaininstances, reactive partners that are abiotic and bioorthogonal providefor extreme selectivity of the reaction. Furthermore, the reaction canbe carried out under physiological conditions, e.g., a pH of about 7within an aqueous environment, and at about 37° C.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are based in part on the discoveryof a means for carrying out a modified Huisgen reaction that can becarried out in an aqueous, physiological environment. Because thereaction is highly selective and functions in aqueous solvents, thereaction can be used in a variety of applications both in vitro and invivo. The reaction is accomplished through use of a first molecule thatincludes a strained cycloalkyne moiety, and second molecule thatincludes an azide moiety. The azide moiety on the second moleculereacts, in the absence of a catalyst, with the strained cycloalkynemoiety on the first molecule, forming a final conjugate product thatincludes a fused azide/cycloalkyne ring. The first molecule having thestrained cycloalkyne moiety can further include a moiety that allows forsubsequent reactions and/or which provides for detectable labeling ofthe product of the final reaction. The reaction proceeds without theneed for a catalyst. Instead, the activation energy for the reaction isprovided by the azide group and the strained cycloalkyne group. Thereaction takes advantage of the significant bond angle deformation ofthe acetylene group in the cycloalkyne moiety, which provides for ringstrain. For example, bond angle deformation of the acetylene group ofcyclooctyne to 163° accounts for nearly 18 kcal/mol of ring strain. Thisdestabilization of the ground state versus the transition state of thereaction provides a n accelerated reaction rate compared to unstrainedalkynes.

Modified Cycloalkyne Compounds

Embodiments of the present disclosure include modified cycloalkynecompounds; and compositions that include the compounds. In certainembodiments, the modified cycloalkyne compounds include azacycloalkynonecompounds. A subject azacycloalkynone is a compound of the formula:X-(L)_(n)-Y, wherein:

X is a strained azacycloalkynone group, optionally substituted with Y,and in some embodiments one or more additional groups, and wherein thestrained azacycloalkynone group comprises at least two sp² centersvicinal to each other;

each L is a divalent moiety independently selected from alkylene,substituted alkylene, alkenylene, substituted alkenylene, alkynylene,substituted alkynylene, arylene, substituted arylene, cycloalkylene,substituted cycloalkylene, heteroarylene, substituted heteroarylene,heterocyclene, substituted heterocyclene, acyl, amido, acyloxy,urethanylene, thioester, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, sulfonyl ester, —O—,—S—, —NH—, and substituted amine;

each n is a number selected from zero to 40; and

Y is H; a moiety that comprises a reactive group that facilitatescovalent attachment of a molecule of interest; or a molecule ofinterest.

In some embodiments, Y is H.

In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group. Suitable reactive groupsinclude, but are not necessarily limited to, carboxyl, amine, (e.g.,alkyl amine (e.g., lower alkyl amine), aryl amine), ester (e.g., alkylester (e.g., lower alkyl ester, benzyl ester), aryl ester, substitutedaryl ester), thioester, sulfonyl halide, alcohol, alkoxide, thiol,succinimidyl ester, isothiocyanate, iodoacetamide, maleimide, hydrazine,hydrazide, carbonyl, halogen, cyano, diazo, azide, guanidine, sulfone,epoxide, diazirine, alkene, alkyne, phosphine, silane, alkylsulfonicacid and the like. In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group selectedfrom a carboxyl, an amine, an ester, a thioester, a sulfonyl halide, analcohol, an alkoxide, a thiol, a succinimidyl ester, an isothiocyanate,an iodoacetamide, a maleimide, a hydrazine, a hydrazide, a carbonyl, ahalogen, a cyano, a diazo, an azide, a guanidine, a sulfone, an epoxide,a diazirine, an alkene, an alkyne, a phosphine, a silane, and analkylsulfonic acid.

In some embodiments, Y is a molecule of interest, where suitablemolecules of interest include, but are not limited to, a detectablelabel; a toxin (including cytotoxins); a peptide; a drug; a member of aspecific binding pair; an epitope tag; a strained azacycloalkynonegroup; and the like.

The azacycloalkynone is a strained azacycloalkynone, e.g., theazacycloalkynone increases the rate of reaction from about 2-fold toabout 1000-fold, e.g., the azacycloalkynone increases the rate ofreaction at least about 2-fold, at least about 5-fold, at least about10-fold, at least about 50-fold, at least about 100-fold, at least about500-fold, or at least about 1000-fold, compared to the rate of reactionbetween an azide and a linear alkyne having the same number of carbonatoms as the azacyclooctynone. The strain on the azacycloalkynone can beincreased in a variety of ways, e.g., through the use of heteroatoms;the degree of unsaturation, or torsional strain; the use ofelectron-withdrawing groups (e.g., a halo (bromo, chloro, fluoro, iodo),a nitro group, a cyano group, a sulfone group, and the like), etc. Insome embodiments, the azacycloalkynone is an azacyclooctynone.

Formula I

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound is of FormulaI:

wherein

five of X¹-X⁶ are carbon atoms;

one of X¹-X⁶ is nitrogen;

the X¹-X⁶ that is vicinal to the X¹-X⁶ that is nitrogen is C═O;

at least two of X¹-X⁶ are sp² centers vicinal to each other;

each L is a divalent moiety independently selected from alkylene,substituted alkylene, alkenylene, substituted alkenylene, alkynylene,substituted alkynylene, arylene, substituted arylene, cycloalkylene,substituted cycloalkylene, heteroarylene, substituted heteroarylene,heterocyclene, substituted heterocyclene, acyl, amido, acyloxy,urethanylene, thioester, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, sulfonyl ester, —O—,—S—, —NH—, and substituted amine;

each n is a number selected from zero to 40; and

Y is H; a moiety that comprises a reactive group that facilitatescovalent attachment of a molecule of interest; or a molecule ofinterest.

In some embodiments, in Formula I, one of X²-X⁵ is nitrogen. In someembodiments, in Formula I, one of X³ and X⁴ is nitrogen.

In some embodiments, in Formula I, at least four of X¹-X⁶ are sp²centers vicinal to each other. In some embodiments, in Formula I, X¹ andX² are sp² centers vicinal to each other. In some embodiments, inFormula I, X⁵ and X⁶ are sp² centers vicinal to each other. In someembodiments, in Formula I, X² and X³ are sp² centers vicinal to eachother.

In some embodiments, in Formula I, at least one of X¹ -X² is the carbonof a carbonyl group. In some embodiments, in Formula I, at least one ofX³ and X⁴ is the carbon of a carbonyl group. In some embodiments, inFormula I, at least one of X⁴ and X⁵ is the carbon of a carbonyl group.In some embodiments, the carbonyl group is the carbonyl of an amidogroup. In some embodiments, the carbonyl group is the carbonyl of anurea group.

In some embodiments, Y is H.

In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group. Suitable reactive groupsinclude, but are not necessarily limited to, carboxyl, amine, (e.g.,alkyl amine (e.g., lower alkyl amine), aryl amine), ester (e.g., alkylester (e.g., lower alkyl ester, benzyl ester), aryl ester, substitutedaryl ester), thioester, sulfonyl halide, alcohol, alkoxide, thiol,succinimidyl ester, isothiocyanate, iodoacetamide, maleimide, hydrazine,hydrazide, carbonyl, halogen, cyano, diazo, azide, guanidine, sulfone,epoxide, diazirine, alkene, alkyne, phosphine, silane, alkylsulfonicacid and the like. In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group selectedfrom a carboxyl, an amine, an ester, a thioester, a sulfonyl halide, analcohol, an alkoxide, a thiol, a succinimidyl ester, an isothiocyanate,an iodoacetamide, a maleimide, a hydrazine, a hydrazide, a carbonyl, ahalogen, a cyano, a diazo, an azide, a guanidine, a sulfone, an epoxide,a diazirine, an alkene, an alkyne, a phosphine, a silane, and analkylsulfonic acid.

In some embodiments, Y is a molecule of interest, where suitablemolecules of interest include, but are not limited to, a detectablelabel; a toxin (including cytotoxins); a peptide; a drug; a member of aspecific binding pair; an epitope tag; a strained azacycloalkynonegroup; and the like.

Formula II

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound is of FormulaII:

wherein

at least two of X¹, X², X⁵, and X⁶ are sp² centers vicinal to each other(e.g., X¹ and X², and/or X⁵ and X⁶);

each L is a divalent moiety independently selected from alkylene,substituted alkylene, alkenylene, substituted alkenylene, alkynylene,substituted alkynylene, arylene, substituted arylene, cycloalkylene,substituted cycloalkylene, heteroarylene, substituted heteroarylene,heterocyclene, substituted heterocyclene, acyl, amido, acyloxy,urethanylene, thioester, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, sulfonyl ester, —O—,—S—, —NH—, and substituted amine;

each n is a number selected from zero to 40; and

Y is H; a moiety that comprises a reactive group that facilitatescovalent attachment of a molecule of interest; or a molecule ofinterest.

In some embodiments, Y is H.

In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group. Suitable reactive groupsinclude, but are not necessarily limited to, carboxyl, amine, (e.g.,alkyl amine (e.g., lower alkyl amine), aryl amine), ester (e.g., alkylester (e.g., lower alkyl ester, benzyl ester), aryl ester, substitutedaryl ester), thioester, sulfonyl halide, alcohol, alkoxide, thiol,succinimidyl ester, isothiocyanate, iodoacetamide, maleimide, hydrazine,hydrazide, carbonyl, halogen, cyano, diazo, azide, guanidine, sulfone,epoxide, diazirine, alkene, alkyne, phosphine, silane, alkylsulfonicacid and the like. In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group selectedfrom a carboxyl, an amine, an ester, a thioester, a sulfonyl halide, analcohol, an alkoxide, a thiol, a succinimidyl ester, an isothiocyanate,an iodoacetamide, a maleimide, a hydrazine, a hydrazide, a carbonyl, ahalogen, a cyano, a diazo, an azide, a guanidine, a sulfone, an epoxide,a diazirine, an alkene, an alkyne, a phosphine, a silane, and analkylsulfonic acid.

In some embodiments, Y is a molecule of interest, where suitablemolecules of interest include, but are not limited to, a detectablelabel; a toxin (including cytotoxins); a peptide; a drug; a member of aspecific binding pair; an epitope tag; a strained azacycloalkynonegroup; and the like.

Formula III

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound is of FormulaIII:

wherein

L is a divalent moiety selected from alkylene, substituted alkylene,alkenylene, substituted alkenylene, alkynylene, substituted alkynylene,arylene, substituted arylene, cycloalkylene, substituted cycloalkylene,heteroarylene, substituted heteroarylene, heterocyclene, substitutedheterocyclene, acyl, amido, acyloxy, urethanylene, thioester, sulfonyl,sulfonamide, sulfonyl ester, —O—, —S—, —NH—, and substituted amine;

n is a number selected from zero to 40;

each R is independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkoxy,substituted alkoxy, acyl, acylamino, acyloxy, amino, substituted amino,aminoacyl, aminoacyloxy, oxyaminoacyl, azido, cyano, halogen, hydroxyl,thioketo, carboxyl, carboxylalkyl, thiol, thioalkoxy, substitutedthioalkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, hydroxyamino, alkoxyamino, nitro, —SO-alkyl,—SO-substituted alkyl, —SO-aryl, —SO-heteroaryl, —SO₂-alkyl,—SO₂-substituted alkyl, —SO₂-aryl and —SO₂-heteroaryl;

each a is a number selected from zero to four; and

Y is H; a moiety that comprises a reactive group that facilitatescovalent attachment of a molecule of interest; or a molecule ofinterest.

In Formula III, the —(R)a represents one or more optional arylsubstituents (e.g., 1, 2, 3 or 4 aryl substituents), each R groupindependently attached to any suitable carbon of the aryl ring.

In some embodiments, Y is H.

In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group. Suitable reactive groupsinclude, but are not necessarily limited to, carboxyl, amine, (e.g.,alkyl amine (e.g., lower alkyl amine), aryl amine), ester (e.g., alkylester (e.g., lower alkyl ester, benzyl ester), aryl ester, substitutedaryl ester), thioester, sulfonyl halide, alcohol, alkoxide, thiol,succinimidyl ester, isothiocyanate, iodoacetamide, maleimide, hydrazine,hydrazide, carbonyl, halogen, cyano, diazo, azide, guanidine, sulfone,epoxide, diazirine, alkene, alkyne, phosphine, silane, alkylsulfonicacid and the like. In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group selectedfrom a carboxyl, an amine, an ester, a thioester, a sulfonyl halide, analcohol, an alkoxide, a thiol, a succinimidyl ester, an isothiocyanate,an iodoacetamide, a maleimide, a hydrazine, a hydrazide, a carbonyl, ahalogen, a cyano, a diazo, an azide, a guanidine, a sulfone, an epoxide,a diazirine, an alkene, an alkyne, a phosphine, a silane, and analkylsulfonic acid.

In some embodiments, Y is a molecule of interest, where suitablemolecules of interest include, but are not limited to, a detectablelabel; a toxin (including cytotoxins); a peptide; a drug; a member of aspecific binding pair; an epitope tag; a strained azacycloalkynonegroup; and the like.

Formula IV

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound is of FormulaIV:

where

X¹-X⁸ are each independently selected from carbon (e.g., CH or CR),nitrogen and silicon (e.g., Si—R);

each L is a divalent moiety selected from alkylene, substitutedalkylene, alkenylene, substituted alkenylene, alkynylene, substitutedalkynylene, arylene, substituted arylene, cycloalkylene, substitutedcycloalkylene, heteroarylene, substituted heteroarylene, heterocyclene,substituted heterocyclene, acyl, amido, acyloxy, urethanylene,thioester, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, sulfonyl ester, —O—, —S—, —NH—, andsubstituted amine;

each n is a number independently selected from zero to 40;

each R is independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkoxy,substituted alkoxy, acyl, acylamino, acyloxy, amino, substituted amino,aminoacyl, aminoacyloxy, oxyaminoacyl, azido, cyano, halogen, hydroxyl,thioketo, carboxyl, carboxylalkyl, thiol, thioalkoxy, substitutedthioalkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, hydroxyamino, alkoxyamino, nitro, —SO-alkyl,—SO-substituted alkyl, —SO-aryl, —SO-heteroaryl, —SO₂-alkyl,—SO₂-substituted alkyl, —SO₂-aryl and —SO₂-heteroaryl; and

Y¹-Y³ are each independently selected from H; a moiety that comprises areactive group that facilitates covalent attachment of a molecule ofinterest; or a molecule of interest.

In some embodiments, Y¹-Y³ are each H.

In some embodiments, at least one of Y¹-Y³ is a reactive group. Suitablereactive groups include, but are not necessarily limited to, carboxyl,amine, (e.g., alkyl amine (e.g., lower alkyl amine), aryl amine), ester(e.g., alkyl ester (e.g., lower alkyl ester, benzyl ester), aryl ester,substituted aryl ester), thioester, sulfonyl halide, alcohol, alkoxide,thiol, succinimidyl ester, isothiocyanate, iodoacetamide, maleimide,hydrazine, hydrazide, carbonyl, halogen, cyano, diazo, azide, guanidine,sulfone, epoxide, diazirine, alkene, alkyne, phosphine, silane,alkylsulfonic acid and the like. In some embodiments, Y is a reactivegroup selected from a carboxyl, an amine, an ester, a thioester, asulfonyl halide, an alcohol, an alkoxide, a thiol, a succinimidyl ester,an isothiocyanate, an iodoacetamide, a maleimide, a hydrazine, ahydrazide, a carbonyl, a halogen, a cyano, a diazo, an azide, aguanidine, a sulfone, an epoxide, a diazirine, an alkene, an alkyne, aphosphine, a silane, and an alkylsulfonic acid.

In some embodiments, at least one of Y¹-Y³ is a molecule of interest,where suitable molecules of interest include, but are not limited to, adetectable label; a toxin (including cytotoxins); a peptide; a drug; amember of a specific binding pair; an epitope tag; a strainedazacycloalkynone group; and the like.

Formula V

In some embodiments, an azacycloalkynone compound is of Formula V:

wherein

L is a divalent moiety selected from alkylene, substituted alkylene,alkenylene, substituted alkenylene, alkynylene, substituted alkynylene,arylene, substituted arylene, cycloalkylene, substituted cycloalkylene,heteroarylene, substituted heteroarylene, heterocyclene, substitutedheterocyclene, acyl, amido, acyloxy, urethanylene, thioester, sulfonyl,sulfonamide, sulfonyl ester, —O—, —S—, —NH—, and substituted amine;

n is a number selected from zero to 40; and

Y is H; a moiety that comprises a reactive group that facilitatescovalent attachment of a molecule of interest; or a molecule ofinterest.

In some embodiments, Y is H.

In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group. Suitable reactive groupsinclude, but are not necessarily limited to, carboxyl, amine, (e.g.,alkyl amine (e.g., lower alkyl amine), aryl amine), ester (e.g., alkylester (e.g., lower alkyl ester, benzyl ester), aryl ester, substitutedaryl ester), thioester, sulfonyl halide, alcohol, alkoxide, thiol,succinimidyl ester, isothiocyanate, iodoacetamide, maleimide, hydrazine,hydrazide, carbonyl, halogen, cyano, diazo, azide, guanidine, sulfone,epoxide, diazirine, alkene, alkyne, phosphine, silane, alkylsulfonicacid and the like. In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group selectedfrom a carboxyl, an amine, an ester, a thioester, a sulfonyl halide, analcohol, an alkoxide, a thiol, a succinimidyl ester, an isothiocyanate,an iodoacetamide, a maleimide, a hydrazine, a hydrazide, a carbonyl, ahalogen, a cyano, a diazo, an azide, a guanidine, a sulfone, an epoxide,a diazirine, an alkene, an alkyne, a phosphine, a silane, and analkylsulfonic acid.

In some embodiments, Y is a molecule of interest, where suitablemolecules of interest include, but are not limited to, a detectablelabel; a toxin (including cytotoxins); a peptide; a drug; a member of aspecific binding pair; an epitope tag; a strained azacycloalkynonegroup; and the like.

Formula VI

In some embodiments, an azacycloalkynone compound is of Formula VI:

wherein

L is a divalent moiety selected from alkylene, substituted alkylene,alkenylene, substituted alkenylene, alkynylene, substituted alkynylene,arylene, substituted arylene, cycloalkylene, substituted cycloalkylene,heteroarylene, substituted heteroarylene, heterocyclene, substitutedheterocyclene, acyl, amido, acyloxy, urethanylene, thioester, sulfonyl,sulfonamide, sulfonyl ester, —O—, —S—, —NH—, and substituted amine;

n is a number selected from zero to 40;

each R is independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkoxy,substituted alkoxy, acyl, acylamino, acyloxy, amino, substituted amino,aminoacyl, aminoacyloxy, oxyaminoacyl, azido, cyano, halogen, hydroxyl,thioketo, carboxyl, carboxylalkyl, thiol, thioalkoxy, substitutedthioalkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, hydroxyamino, alkoxyamino, nitro, —SO-alkyl,—SO-substituted alkyl, —SO-aryl, —SO-heteroaryl, —SO₂-alkyl,—SO₂-substituted alkyl, —SO₂-aryl, —SO₂-heteroaryl; and

each a is a number selected from zero to four.

In some embodiments, the subject azacycloalkynone compound includes oneor more substituents, divalent moieties L or a Y group that provides forincreased solubility under physiological conditions (e.g., an aqueousbuffer). For example, the subject azacycloalkynone compound may providefor a 10% or more increase in solubility over BARAC, such as a 20% ormore, 50% or more, or 100%, or more than 100%, increase in solubility.For example, the subject azacycloalkynone compound may provide for a2-fold or more increase in solubility over BARAC, such as a 5-fold ormore, 10-fold or more, or 100-fold, or more than 100-fold, increase insolubility.

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 15, as shown below:

Compound 15: BARAC.

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 16, as shown below:

Compound 16: BARAC-biotin.

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 17, as shown below:

Compound 17: BARAC-Fluor.

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 21, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 22, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 23, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 24, as shown below, wherein R is selected fromhydrogen, alkyl, sulfate, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substitutedalkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl,cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl,heterocyclyl, substituted heterocyclyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, sulfonylester, amino, and substituted amino:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 25, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 26, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 27, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 28, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 119, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 120, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 123, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 124, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 41, as shown below:

In some embodiments, a subject azacycloalkynone compound has thestructure of Compound 44, as shown below:

A subject azacycloalkynone compound can be coupled to a molecule ofinterest using any suitable method and chemistry. For example, couplingcan be achieved using a metal-catalyzed cross-coupling or metal-halogenexchange/nucleophilic attack method, as illustrated in the followingscheme:

where R′ and R″ are molecules of interest, and each R is independentlyan alkyl, a substituted alkyl, an aryl or a substituted aryl, and whereoptionally the R groups of the boronic ester may be cyclically linked.Molecules of Interest

In some embodiments, Y is a molecule of interest. Suitable molecules ofinterest include, but are not limited to, a detectable label; a toxin(including cytotoxins); a linker; a peptide; a drug; a member of aspecific binding pair; an epitope tag; a strained azacycloalkynonegroup; a cycloalkyne, a phosphine, a ketone, a fluorophore, aisotopically labeled tag, and the like. Where Y is a molecule ofinterest other than a linker, the molecule of interest is attacheddirectly to an R group, as noted above, or is attached through a linker.

Where Y is a molecule of interest, the modified cycloalkyne may includea molecule desired for delivery and conjugation to the azido-targetsubstrate (azide-containing target molecule), which target substrate maybe displayed on the cell surface, may reside within the cell membrane,or may be intracellular. Molecules that may be desirable for deliveryinclude, but are not necessarily limited to, detectable labels (e.g.,spin labels, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-type dyes,e.g., for studying structure of biomolecules in vivo), small moleculedrugs, cytotoxic molecules (e.g., drugs), ligands for binding by atarget receptor (e.g., to facilitate viral attachment, attachment of atargeting protein present on a liposome, etc.), tags to aid inpurification by, for example, affinity chromatography (e.g., attachmentof a FLAG epitope), molecules to facilitate selective attachment of thepolypeptide to a surface, an enzyme inhibitor (e.g., for use inactivity-based protein profiling), and the like. Specific, non-limitingexamples are provided below.

Detectable Labels

The compositions and methods can be used to deliver a detectable labelto a target molecule having an azide. In some embodiments, a modifiedcycloalkyne includes a detectable label, covalently bound to themodified cycloalkyne either directly or through a linker.

Exemplary detectable labels include, but are not necessarily limited to,fluorescent molecules (e.g., autofluorescent molecules, molecules thatfluoresce upon contact with a reagent, etc.), radioactive labels (e.g.,¹¹¹In, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ²¹²B, ⁹⁰Y, ¹⁸⁶Rh, ¹⁸F and the like); biotin (e.g., tobe detected through reaction of biotin and avidin); fluorescent tags;imaging reagents (e.g., those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,741,900 and5,326,856, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety), and the like. Detectable labels also includepeptides or polypeptides that can be detected by antibody binding, e.g.,by binding of a detectably labeled antibody or by detection of boundantibody through a sandwich-type assay. Also suitable for use arequantum dots (e.g., detectably labeled semiconductor nanocrystals, suchas fluorescently labeled quantum dots, antibody-conjugated quantum dots,and the like). See, e.g., Dubertret et al. (2002) Science 298:759-1762;Chan et al. (1998) Science 281:2016-2018; U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,551;Bruchez et al. (1998) Science 281:2013-2016, the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

In certain embodiments, the subject compositions do not include anaturally occurring or synthetic isotope, a naturally occurring orsynthetic radioisotope, or the like. For example, certain embodiments ofthe subject compositions do not include isotopes or radioisotopes, suchas, but not limited to, deuterium, tritium, carbon-13, carbon-14,nitrogen-15, oxygen-18, silicon-29, chlorine-36, and the like. Forinstance, in certain instances, the subject compositions are notsubstituted with isotopes or radioisotopes due to the natural abundanceof the isotopes or radioisotopes. In some cases, the subjectcompositions are not deuterated, e.g., the subject compositions do notinclude a detectable label, such as deuterium, including naturallyoccurring or synthetic deuterium. For example, in certain instances,hydrogen in the subject compositions is not substituted with deuteriumdue to the natural abundance of deuterium.

Suitable fluorescent molecules (fluorophores) include, but are notlimited to, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, succinimidyl estersof carboxyfluorescein, succinimidyl esters of fluorescein, 5-isomer offluorescein dichlorotriazine, cagedcarboxyfluorescein-alanine-carboxamide, Oregon Green 488, Oregon Green514; Lucifer Yellow, acridine Orange, rhodamine, tetramethylrhodamine,Texas Red, propidium iodide, JC-1(5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazoylcarbocyanineiodide), tetrabromorhodamine 123, rhodamine 6G, TMRM(tetramethylrhodamine-, methyl ester), TMRE (tetramethylrhodamine, ethylester), tetramethylrosamine, rhodamine B and4-dimethylaminotetramethylrosamine, green fluorescent protein,blue-shifted green fluorescent protein, cyan-shifted green fluorescentprotein, red-shifted green fluorescent protein, yellow-shifted greenfluorescent protein,4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′disulfonic acid; acridine andderivatives: acridine, acridine isothiocyanate;5-(2′-aminoethyl)aminonaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (EDANS);4-amino-N-[3-vinylsulfonyl)phenyl]naphth- alimide-3,5 disulfonate;N-(4-anilino-1-naphthyl)maleimide; anthranilamide;4,4-difluoro-5-(2-thienyl)-4-bora-3a,4a diaza-5-indacene-3-propioni-cacid BODIPY; cascade blue; Brilliant Yellow; coumarin and derivatives:coumarin, 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (AMC, Coumarin 120),7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin (Coumarin 151); cyanine dyes;cyanosine; 4′,6-diaminidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI);5′,5″-dibromopyrogallol-sulfonaphthalein (Bromopyrogallol Red);7-diethylamino-3-(4′-isothiocyanatophenyl)-4-methylcoumarin;diethylenetriaamine pentaacetate;4,4′-diisothiocyanatodihydro-stilbene-2-,2′-disulfonic acid;4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid;5-(dimethylamino]naphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride (DNS, dansylchloride);4-dimethylaminophenylazophenyl-4′-isothiocyanate (DABITC); eosin andderivatives: eosin, eosin isothiocyanate, erythrosin and derivatives:erythrosin B, erythrosin, isothiocyanate; ethidium; fluorescein andderivatives: 5-carboxyfluorescein (FAM),5-(4,6-dichlorotriazin-2-yl)amino-fluorescein (DTAF),2′,7′dimethoxy-4′5′-dichloro-6-carboxyfluorescein (JOE), fluorescein,fluorescein isothiocyanate, QFITC, (XRITC); fluorescamine; IR144;IR1446; Malachite Green isothiocyanate; 4-methylumbelli-feroneorthocresolphthalein; nitrotyrosine; pararosaniline; Phenol Red;B-phycoerythrin; o-phthaldialdehyde; pyrene and derivatives: pyrene,pyrene butyrate, succinimidyl 1-pyrene; butyrate quantum dots; ReactiveRed 4 (Cibacron™ Brilliant Red 3B-A) rhodamine and derivatives:6-carboxy-X-rhodamine (ROX), 6-carboxyrhodamine (R6G), lissaminerhodamine B sulfonyl chloride rhodamine (Rhod), rhodamine B, rhodamine123, rhodamine X isothiocyanate, sulforhodamine B, sulforhodamine 101,sulfonyl chloride derivative of sulforhodamine 101 (Texas Red);N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-6-carboxyrhodamine (TAMRA); tetramethyl rhodamine;tetramethyl hodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC); riboflavin;5-(2′-aminoethyl)aminonaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (EDANS),4-(4′-dimethylaminophenylazo)benzoic acid (DABCYL), rosolic acid; CALFluor Orange 560; terbium chelate derivatives; Cy 3; Cy 5; Cy 5.5; Cy 7;IRD 700; IRD 800; La Jolla Blue; phthalo cyanine; and naphthalo cyanine,coumarins and related dyes, xanthene dyes such as rhodols, resorufins,bimanes, acridines, isoindoles, dansyl dyes, aminophthalic hydrazidessuch as luminol, and isoluminol derivatives, aminophthalimides,aminonaphthalimides, aminobenzofurans, aminoquinolines,dicyanohydroquinones, and fluorescent europium and terbium complexes;and the like. Fluorophores of interest are further described in WO01/42505 and WO 01/86001, the disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

Suitable fluorescent proteins and chromogenic proteins include, but arenot limited to, a green fluorescent protein (GFP), including, but notlimited to, a GFP derived from Aequoria victoria or a derivativethereof, e.g., a “humanized” derivative such as Enhanced GFP, which isavailable commercially, e.g., from Clontech, Inc.; a GFP from anotherspecies such as Renilla reniformis, Renilla mulleri, or Ptilosarcusguernyi, as described in, e.g., WO 99/49019 and Peelle et al. (2001) J.Protein Chem. 20:507-519, the disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety; “humanized” recombinant GFP(hrGFP) (Stratagene); any of a variety of fluorescent and coloredproteins from Anthozoan species, as described in, e.g., Matz et al.(1999) Nature Biotechnol. 17:969-973, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety; and the like.

Suitable epitope tags include, but are not limited to, hemagglutinin(HA; e.g., CYPYDVPDYA; SEQ ID NO:1), FLAG (e.g., DYKDDDDK; SEQ ID NO:2),FLAG-C (e.g., DYKDDDDKC; SEQ ID NO:3, c-myc (e.g., CEQKLISEEDL; SEQ IDNO:4), a metal ion affinity tag such as a polyhistidine tag (e.g.,His₆), and the like.

Suitable imaging agents include positive contrast agents and negativecontrast agents. Suitable positive contrast agents include, but are notlimited to, gadolinium tetraazacyclododecanetetraacetic acid (Gd-DOTA);Gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA);Gadolinium-1,4,7-tris(carbonylmethyl)-10-(2′-hydroxypropyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane(Gd-HP-DO3A); Manganese(II)-dipyridoxal diphosphate (Mn-DPDP);Gd-diethylenetriaminepentaacetate-bis(methylamide) (Gd-DTPA-BMA); andthe like. Suitable negative contrast agents include, but are not limitedto, a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) imaging agent; and aperfluorocarbon, where suitable perfluorocarbons include, but are notlimited to, fluoroheptanes, fluorocycloheptanes,fluoromethylcycloheptanes, fluorohexanes, fluorocyclohexanes,fluoropentanes, fluorocycloheptanes, fluoromethylcyclopentanes,fluorodimethylcyclopentanes, fluoromethylcyclobutanes,fluorodimethylcyclobutanes, fluorotrimethylcyclobutanes, fluorobutanes,fluorocyclobutanse, fluoropropanes, fluoroethers, fluoropolyethers,fluorotriethylamines, perfluorohexanes, perfluoropentanes,perfluorobutanes, perfluoropropanes, sulfur hexafluoride, and the like.

Specific Binding Partners

In some embodiments, a subject modified cycloalkyne includes a member ofa pair of binding partners. A member of a pair of binding partners isreferred to herein as a “specific binding partner.”

Suitable specific binding partners include, but are not limited to, amember of a receptor/ligand pair; a member of an antibody/antigen pair;a member of a lectin/carbohydrate pair; a member of an enzyme/substratepair; biotin/avidin; biotin/streptavidin; digoxin/antidigoxin; and thelike. Suitable specific binding partners include, but are not limited toa receptor ligand; a receptor for a ligand; a ligand-binding portion ofa receptor; an antibody; an antigen-binding fragment of an antibody; anantigen; a hapten; a lectin; a lectin-binding carbohydrate; an enzymesubstrate; an irreversible inhibitor of an enzyme (e.g., an irreversibleinhibitor that binds a substrate binding site of an enzyme, e.g., a“suicide” substrate); and the like.

Suitable ligand members of receptor/ligand pairs include, but are notlimited to, neurotransmitters such as opioid compounds, acetylcholine,and the like; viral proteins that bind to a cell surface receptor, e.g.,human immunodeficiency virus gp120, and the like; hormones; and thelike.

Suitable antigen-binding antibody fragments include F(ab′)₂, F(ab)₂,Fab′, Fab, Fv, scFv, and Fd fragments, single-chain antibodies, andfusion proteins comprising an antigen-binding portion of an antibody anda non-antibody protein (e.g., an antigen-binding fragment of an antibodyfused to an immunoglobulin constant region).

Suitable haptens include, but are not limited to,(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl; diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid(DTPA) or one of its metal complexes; paranitrophenyl; biotin;fluorescein isothiocyanate; and the like.

Drugs

Suitable drugs that can be attached to a modified cycloalkyne moietyinclude, but are not limited to, cytotoxic compounds (e.g., cancerchemotherapeutic compounds); antiviral compounds; biological responsemodifiers (e.g., hormones, chemokines, cytokines, interleukins, etc.);microtubule affecting agents; hormone modulators; steroidal compounds;and the like.

Suitable cancer chemotherapeutic compounds include, but are not limitedto, non-peptidic (e.g., non-proteinaceous) compounds that reduceproliferation of cancer cells; peptidic compounds that reduceproliferation of cancer cells; anti-metabolite agents; cytotoxic agents;and cytostatic agents. Non-limiting examples of chemotherapeutic agentsinclude alkylating agents, nitrosoureas, antimetabolites, antitumorantibiotics, plant (vinca) alkaloids, and steroid hormones.

Suitable agents that act to reduce cellular proliferation include, butare not limited to, alkylating agents, such as nitrogen mustards,nitrosoureas, ethylenimine derivatives, alkyl sulfonates, and triazenes,including, but not limited to, mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide(Cytoxan™), melphalan (L-sarcolysin), carmustine (BCNU), lomustine(CCNU), semustine (methyl-CCNU), streptozocin, chlorozotocin, uracilmustard, chlormethine, ifosfamide, chlorambucil, pipobroman,triethylenemelamine, triethylenethiophosphoramine, busulfan,dacarbazine, and temozolomide.

Suitable antimetabolite agents include folic acid analogs, pyrimidineanalogs, purine analogs, and adenosine deaminase inhibitors, including,but not limited to, cytarabine (CYTOSAR-U), cytosine arabinoside,fluorouracil (5-FU), floxuridine (FudR), 6-thioguanine, 6-mercaptopurine(6-MP), pentostatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), methotrexate,10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate (PDDF, CB3717),5,8-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid (DDATHF), leucovorin, fludarabinephosphate, pentostatine, and gemcitabine.

Suitable anti-proliferative natural products and their derivatives,(e.g., vinca alkaloids, antitumor antibiotics, enzymes, lymphokines, andepipodophyllotoxins), include, but are not limited to, Ara-C, paclitaxel(Taxol®), docetaxel (Taxotere®), deoxycoformycin, mitomycin-C,L-asparaginase, azathioprine; brequinar; alkaloids, e.g. vincristine,vinblastine, vinorelbine, vindesine, etc.; podophyllotoxins, e.g.etoposide, teniposide, etc.; antibiotics, e.g. anthracycline,daunorubicin hydrochloride (daunomycin, rubidomycin, cerubidine),idarubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin and morpholino derivatives, etc.;phenoxizone biscyclopeptides, e.g. dactinomycin; basic glycopeptides,e.g. bleomycin; anthraquinone glycosides, e.g. plicamycin (mithramycin);anthracenediones, e.g. mitoxantrone; azirinopyrrolo indolediones, e.g.mitomycin; macrocyclic immunosuppressants, e.g. cyclosporine, FK-506(tacrolimus, prograf), rapamycin, etc.; and the like.

Other suitable anti-proliferative cytotoxic agents are navelbene,CPT-11, anastrazole, letrazole, capecitabine, reloxafine,cyclophosphamide, ifosamide, and droloxafine.

Suitable microtubule affecting agents that have antiproliferativeactivity include, but are not limited to, allocolchicine (NSC 406042),Halichondrin B (NSC 609395), colchicine (NSC 757), colchicinederivatives (e.g., NSC 33410), dolstatin 10 (NSC 376128), maytansine(NSC 153858), rhizoxin (NSC 332598), paclitaxel (Taxol®), Taxol®derivatives, docetaxel (Taxotere®), thiocolchicine (NSC 361792), tritylcysterin, vinblastine sulfate, vincristine sulfate, natural andsynthetic epothilones including but not limited to, eopthilone A,epothilone B, discodermolide; estramustine, nocodazole, and the like.

Suitable hormone modulators and steroids (including synthetic analogs)include, but are not limited to, adrenocorticosteroids, e.g. prednisone,dexamethasone, etc.; estrogens and pregestins, e.g. hydroxyprogesteronecaproate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, megestrol acetate, estradiol,clomiphene, tamoxifen; etc.; and adrenocortical suppressants, e.g.aminoglutethimide; 17α-ethinylestradiol; diethylstilbestrol,testosterone, fluoxymesterone, dromostanolone propionate, testolactone,methylprednisolone, methyl-testosterone, prednisolone, triamcinolone,chlorotrianisene, hydroxyprogesterone, aminoglutethimide, estramustine,medroxyprogesterone acetate, leuprolide, Flutamide (Drogenil),Toremifene (Fareston), Zoladex®, and the like. Estrogens stimulateproliferation and differentiation, therefore compounds that bind to theestrogen receptor are used to block this activity. Corticosteroids mayinhibit T cell proliferation.

Other suitable chemotherapeutic agents include metal complexes, e.g.cisplatin (cis-DDP), carboplatin, etc.; ureas, e.g. hydroxyurea; andhydrazines, e.g. N-methylhydrazine; epidophyllotoxin; a topoisomeraseinhibitor; procarbazine; mitoxantrone; leucovorin; tegafur; etc.. Otheranti-proliferative agents of interest include immunosuppressants, e.g.mycophenolic acid, thalidomide, desoxyspergualin, azasporine,leflunomide, mizoribine, azaspirane (SKF 105685); Iressa® (ZD 1839,4-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenylamino)-7-methoxy-6-(3-(4-morpholinyl)propoxy)quinazoline);etc.

Taxanes are also suitable for attachment to a cycloalkyne moiety.“Taxanes” include paclitaxel, as well as any active taxane derivative orpro-drug. “Paclitaxel” (which should be understood herein to includeanalogues, formulations, and derivatives such as, for example,docetaxel, TAXOL™, TAXOTERE™ (a formulation of docetaxel), 10-desacetylanalogs of paclitaxel and 3′N-desbenzoyl-3′N-t-butoxycarbonyl analogs ofpaclitaxel) may be readily prepared utilizing techniques known to thoseskilled in the art (see also WO 94/07882, WO 94/07881, WO 94/07880, WO94/07876, WO 93/23555, WO 93/10076; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,294,637; 5,283,253;5,279,949; 5,274,137; 5,202,448; 5,200,534; 5,229,529; and EP 590,267,the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety), or obtained from a variety of commercial sources, includingfor example, Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo. (T7402 from Taxusbrevifolia; or T-1912 from Taxus yannanensis).

Paclitaxel should be understood to refer to not only the commonchemically available form of paclitaxel, but analogs and derivatives(e.g., Taxotere™ docetaxel, as noted above) and paclitaxel conjugates(e.g., paclitaxel-PEG, paclitaxel-dextran, or paclitaxel-xylose).

Also included within the term “taxane” are a variety of knownderivatives, including both hydrophilic derivatives, and hydrophobicderivatives. Taxane derivatives include, but are not limited to,galactose and mannose derivatives described in International PatentApplication No. WO 99/18113, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety; piperazino and other derivativesdescribed in WO 99/14209, the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety; taxane derivatives described in WO99/09021, WO 98/22451, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,680, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety; 6-thioderivatives described in WO 98/28288, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety; sulfenamidederivatives described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,263, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; and taxolderivative described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,869, the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The term “taxane”further includes prodrugs of paclitaxel including, but not limited to,those described in WO 98/58927; WO 98/13059; and U.S. Pat. No.5,824,701, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

Biological response modifiers that are suitable for attachment to acycloalkyne moiety include, but are not limited to, (1) inhibitors oftyrosine kinase (RTK) activity; (2) inhibitors of serine/threoninekinase activity; (3) tumor-associated antigen antagonists, such asantibodies that bind specifically to a tumor antigen; (4) apoptosisreceptor agonists; (5) interleukin-2; (6) IFN-α; (7) IFN-γ (8)colony-stimulating factors; (9) inhibitors of angiogenesis; and thelike.

Linkers

Suitable linkers include, but are not limited to, a carboxylic acid, analkyl ester, an aryl ester, a substituted aryl ester, an aldehyde, anamide, an aryl amide, an alkyl halide, a thioester, a sulfonyl ester, analkyl ketone, an aryl ketone, a substituted aryl ketone, a halosulfonyl,a nitrile, a nitro, a peptide linker, and the like.

Exemplary peptide linkers for use in linking a molecule of interest to amodified cycloalkyne will in some embodiments have a combination ofglycine, alanine, proline and methionine residues. In some embodiments,a peptide linker comprises multiple serine residues, e.g., from 50% to75%, or from 75% to 100% of the amino acids in the linker are serineresidues. In some embodiments, a peptide linker comprises multipleglycine residues, e.g., from 50% to 75%, or from 75% to 100% of theamino acids in the linker are glycine residues. Any flexible linker,generally having a length of from 6 amino acids to 40 amino acids issuitable for use. Linkers may have virtually any sequence that resultsin a generally flexible peptide.

Exemplary flexible linkers include glycine polymers (G)n, glycine-serinepolymers (including, for example, (GS)n, GSGGSn (SEQ ID NO: 5) and GGGSn(SEQ ID NO: 6), where n is an integer of at least one), glycine-alaninepolymers, alanine-serine polymers, and other flexible linkers known inthe art. Glycine and glycine-serine polymers are of interest since bothof these amino acids are relatively unstructured, and therefore mayserve as a neutral tether between components. Glycine polymers are ofparticular interest since glycine accesses significantly more phi-psispace than even alanine, and is much less restricted than residues withlonger side chains (see Scheraga, Rev. Computational Chem. 11173-142(1992)). Exemplary flexible linkers include, but are not limited GGSG(SEQ ID NO: 7), GGSGG (SEQ ID NO: 8), GSGSG (SEQ ID NO: 9), GSGGG (SEQID NO: 10), GGGSG (SEQ ID NO: 11), GSSSG (SEQ ID NO: 12), and the like.

Compositions

Embodiments of the present disclosure further include compositions,including pharmaceutical compositions, having a subject modifiedcycloalkyne compound. In certain instances, a subject compositionincludes a subject modified cycloalkyne compound and at least oneadditional compound. Suitable additional compounds include, but are notlimited to: a salt, such as a magnesium salt, a sodium salt, etc., e.g.,NaCl, MgCl, KCl, MgSO₄, etc.; a buffering agent, e.g., a Tris buffer,N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N′-(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (HEPES),2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES),2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid sodium salt (MES),3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid (MOPS),N-tris[hydroxymethyl]methyl-3-aminopropanesulfonic acid (TAPS), etc.; asolubilizing agent; a detergent, e.g., a non-ionic detergent such asTween-20, etc.; a protease inhibitor; and the like.

In some embodiments, a subject composition includes a subject modifiedcycloalkyne compound; and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. Awide variety of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients are known in theart and need not be discussed in detail herein. Pharmaceuticallyacceptable excipients have been amply described in a variety ofpublications, including, for example, A. Gennaro (2000) “Remington: TheScience and Practice of Pharmacy,” 20^(th) edition, Lippincott,Williams, & Wilkins; Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug DeliverySystems (1999) H. C. Ansel et al., eds., 7^(th) ed., Lippincott,Williams, & Wilkins; and Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients (2000) A.H. Kibbe et al., eds., 3^(rd) ed. Amer. Pharmaceutical Assoc.

The pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, such as vehicles, adjuvants,carriers or diluents, are readily available to the public. Moreover,pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances, such as pH adjustingand buffering agents, tonicity adjusting agents, stabilizers, wettingagents and the like, are readily available to the public.

Methods of Modifying a Target Biomolecule

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods for labeling a targetmolecule that includes an azide. The methods may involve reacting anazide in an azide-containing target molecule with a modifiedcycloalkyne. The modified cycloalkyne may have a structure as describedabove. In certain embodiments, a subject method for labeling a cellularcomponent involves: (a) introducing an azide moiety into a cellularcomponent, thereby generating an azide-modified cellular component; and(b) contacting a cell having the azide-modified cellular component witha reactive partner that includes a modified cycloalkyne. In someinstances, the contacting is under physiological conditions. Thecontacting step results in reaction between the azide group ofazide-modified cellular component and the cycloalkyne of the reactivepartner, thereby synthetically and covalently modifying the cellularcomponent to produce a covalently modified cellular component. In someembodiments, the method is carried out on living cells in vitro. Incertain instances, the method is carried out on living cells ex vivo.For example, the method may be carried out on living cells in vivo.

In certain embodiments, the chemoselective ligation is designed for usein fully aqueous, physiological conditions and involves production of astable, final product having a fused azide/cycloalkyne ring. Forexample, the chemoselective ligation may involve reacting a firstreactant having a strained cycloalkyne moiety with a second reactanthaving an azide, such that a covalent bond is formed between the firstand second reactants by reaction of the strained cycloalkyne moiety withthe azide group.

First Reactant

In certain embodiments, a first reactant includes a strained cycloalkynemoiety that provides the energy for the reaction between the first andsecond reactants. The first reactant may be a modified cycloalkynecompound of any of Formulas I-V, as described above.

Exemplary reactive groups include, but are not necessarily limited to,carboxyl, amine, (e.g., alkyl amine (e.g., lower alkyl amine), arylamine), ester (e.g., alkyl ester (e.g., lower alkyl ester, benzylester), aryl ester, substituted aryl ester), thioester, sulfonyl halide,alcohol, alkoxide, thiol, succinimidyl ester, isothiocyanate,iodoacetamide, maleimide, hydrazine, hydrazide, carbonyl, halogen,cyano, diazo, azide, guanidine, sulfone, epoxide, diazirine, alkene,alkyne, phosphine, silane, alkylsulfonic acid and the like. In someembodiments, a reactive group is selected from a carboxyl, an amine, anester, a thioester, a sulfonyl halide, an alcohol, an alkoxide, a thiol,a succinimidyl ester, an isothiocyanate, an iodoacetamide, a maleimide,a hydrazine, a hydrazide, a carbonyl, a halogen, a cyano, a diazo, anazide, a guanidine, a sulfone, an epoxide, a diazirine, an alkene, analkyne, a phosphine, a silane, and an alkylsulfonic acid. Exemplarymolecules of interest further include dyes (e.g., fluorescein ormodified fluorescein, and the like), toxins (including cytotoxins),linkers, peptides, and the like.

The molecule of interest may be reacted directly with the reactive groupor through a linker. Exemplary molecules of interest include, but arenot necessarily limited to, a detectable label; a toxin (includingcytotoxins); a linker; a peptide; a drug; a member of a specific bindingpair; an epitope tag; and the like. Such molecules of interest aredescribed in more detail above.

In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group, where suitable reactivegroups include, but are not limited to, carboxyl, amine, (e.g., alkylamine (e.g., lower alkyl amine), aryl amine), ester (e.g., alkyl ester(e.g., lower alkyl ester, benzyl ester), aryl ester, substituted arylester), thioester, sulfonyl halide, alcohol, alkoxide, thiol,succinimidyl ester, isothiocyanate, iodoacetamide, maleimide, hydrazine,hydrazide, carbonyl, halogen, cyano, diazo, azide, guanidine, sulfone,epoxide, diazirine, alkene, alkyne, phosphine, silane, alkylsulfonicacid and the like. In some embodiments, Y is a reactive group selectedfrom a carboxyl, an amine, an ester, a thioester, a sulfonyl halide, analcohol, an alkoxide, a thiol, a succinimidyl ester, an isothiocyanate,an iodoacetamide, a maleimide, a hydrazine, a hydrazide, a carbonyl, ahalogen, a cyano, a diazo, an azide, a guanidine, a sulfone, an epoxide,a diazirine, an alkene, an alkyne, a phosphine, a silane, and analkylsulfonic acid.

In some embodiments, the cycloalkyne is a cyclooctyne. In someembodiments, the cycloalkyne is an azacycloalkynone.

Second Reactant

In certain embodiments, the second reactant is a compound that includesan azide such that a covalent bond is formed between the first andsecond reactants by reaction of the cycloalkyne moiety with the azidegroup. In some cases, the second reactant is of the formula:R₂—N₃

where R₂ is a target molecule, e.g., a biomolecule or other targetmolecule as described in more detail below.

Target Molecules

Molecules having an azide and suitable for use in embodiments of thepresent disclosure, as well as methods for producing azide-containingmolecules suitable for use in embodiments of the present disclosure, arewell known in the art. Target molecules of interest as the secondreactant include, but are not necessarily limited to, amino acids andamino acid residues, polypeptides (including peptides and proteins),sugars or sugar residues, and the like, which contain or are modified tocontain one or more azide moieties.

The target molecules can be naturally occurring, or may be syntheticallyor recombinantly produced, and may be isolated, substantially purified,or present within the native milieu of the unmodified molecule uponwhich the azide-containing target molecule is based (e.g., on a cellsurface or within a cell, including within a host animal, e.g., amammalian animal, such as a murine host (e.g., rat, mouse), hamster,canine, feline, bovine, swine, and the like). In some embodiments, thetarget molecule is present in vitro in a cell-free reaction. In certaininstances, the target molecule is present in a cell and/or displayed onthe surface of a cell. In some cases, the target molecule is in a livingcell; on the surface of a living cell; in a living organism, e.g., in aliving multicellular organism. Suitable living cells may include cellsthat are part of a living multicellular organism; cells isolated from amulticellular organism; immortalized cell lines; and the like.

Where the target molecule is a polypeptide, the polypeptide may includeD-amino acids, L-amino acids, or both, and may be further modified,either naturally, synthetically, or recombinantly, to include othermoieties. For example, the target polypeptide may be a lipoprotein, aglycoprotein, or other such modified protein.

In certain embodiments, the target molecule useful as the secondreactant includes at least one azide for reaction with a modifiedcycloalkyne according to embodiments of the present disclosure, but mayinclude 2 or more, 3 or more, 5 or more, 10 or more azides. The numberof azides that may be present in a target molecule will vary accordingto the intended application of the final product of the reaction, thenature of the target molecule itself, and other considerations whichwill be readily apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan in practicingembodiments of the disclosure as disclosed herein.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are useful in modification of atarget molecule in vivo. In certain embodiments, the target substrate ismodified to include an azide group at the point at which linkage to themodified cycloalkyne reactant is desired. For example, where the targetsubstrate is a polypeptide, the polypeptide may be modified to containan N-terminal azide. Where the target substrate is a glycoprotein, asugar residue of the glycoprotein can be modified to contain an azide. Atarget molecule that is unmodified with an azide, but that is to bemodified with an azide, is referred to herein as a “target substrate.” Atarget molecule that is modified with an azide is referred to herein as“an azide-modified target molecule” or “an azide-containing targetmolecule.”

Azide Modification of a Target Molecule

The target substrate can be generated in vitro and then introduced intothe cell using any of a variety of methods well known in the art (e.g.,microinjection, liposome or lipofectin-mediated delivery,electroporation, etc.), which methods will vary according to the natureof the substrate to be targeted for modification and can be readily andappropriately selected by the ordinarily skilled artisan. The finaltarget substrate can also be generated in vivo by exploiting a hostcell's natural biosynthetic machinery. For example, the cell can beprovided with a biocompatible azide-derivative of a substrate forsynthesis of the desired target molecule, which substrate is processedby the cell to provide an azide-derivative of the desired final targetsubstrate. For example, where the target substrate is a cell surfaceglycoprotein, the cell can be provided with an azide derivative of asugar residue found within the glycoprotein, which is subsequentlyprocessed by the cell through natural biosynthetic processes to producea modified glycoprotein having at least one modified sugar moietycomprising an accessible azide group.

An azide moiety that can react with a subject compound can beincorporated into any of a variety of molecules, including biomolecules.Methods for incorporating an azide moiety that is available for reactionwith a subject compound are known in the art. See, e.g., Sletten et al.(2009) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed 48:6974; and Chang et al. (2010) Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 107:1821. An azide moiety that is available for reactionwith a subject compound can be incorporated into a sugar moiety, forexample. A sugar moiety can be present in a glycan, in alipopolysaccharide, in a glycoprotein, etc. An azide moiety that isavailable for reaction with a subject compound can be incorporated intoan amino acid, where the amino acid can be present in a polypeptide, aglycoprotein, a proteoglycan, etc. An azide moiety that is available forreaction with a subject compound can be incorporated into a fatty acid,where the fatty acid can be present in a lipid, a lipopolysaccharide, aglycolipoprotein, a lipoprotein, etc. See, e.g., Yap et al. (2010) J.Lipid Res. PMID: 20028662; and Martin et al. (2008) FASEB J. 22:797.

The target substrate can also be produced in vivo using other methods.For example, unnatural amino acids having azides can be incorporatedinto recombinant polypeptides expressed in E. coli (see, e.g., Kiick etal. (2000) Tetrahedron 56:9487, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety). Such recombinantly producedpolypeptides can be selectively reacted with a modified cycloalkynereagent according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

For example, an azide group can be incorporated into the target moleculeby providing a cell (e.g., a eukaryotic cell that glycosylatesbiopolymers such as proteins) with a synthetic building block for thedesired biopolymer target substrate. For instance, the cell can beprovided with a sugar molecule having an azide group to provide forincorporation of the azide group in a glycoprotein. In some embodiments,the glycoprotein is expressed on the cell surface. Alternatively, theazide group can be incorporated into an amino acid, which issubsequently incorporated into a peptide or polypeptide synthesized bythe cell. Several methods are available for incorporating unnaturalbuilding blocks into biopolymers; one need not be restricted to cellsurface oligosaccharides as target molecules. See, e.g., vanHest et al.(1998) FEBS Lett. 428:68; and Nowak et al. (1995) Science 268:439, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.**

In certain embodiments, the target molecule is a carbohydrate-containingmolecule (e.g., a glycoprotein; a polysaccharide; etc.), and an azidegroup is introduced into the target molecule using a syntheticsubstrate. In some cases, the synthetic substrate is an azide derivativeof a sugar utilized in production of a glycosylated molecule. In certaininstances, the synthetic substrate is an azide derivative of a sugarutilized in production of a cell surface molecule, e.g., in theglycoprotein biosynthetic pathway. For example, the host cell can beprovided with a synthetic sialic acid azido-derivative, which can beincorporated into the pathway for sialic acid biosynthesis, eventuallyresulting in the incorporation of the synthetic sugar residue inglycoproteins. In some embodiments, the glycoproteins are displayed onthe cell surface.

For example, the synthetic substrate may be an azido derivative ofmannosamine of the formula:

where n is from 1 to 6, generally from 1 to 4, more usually 1 to 2, andR₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are independently hydrogen or acetyl. In someembodiments, the substrate is N-azidoacetylmannosamine (n=1) or anacetylated derivative thereof, or N-azidopropanoylmannosamine (n=2) oran acetylated form thereof.

In some embodiments, the synthetic substrate is an azido sugarderivative of a formula of, for example:

either of which can be incorporated into the sialic acid biosynthesispathway, and where n is from 1 to 6, such as from 1 to 4, including from1 to 2, and R₂, R₃, and R₄ are each independently hydrogen or acetyl.

In certain embodiments, the synthetic substrate is an azido sugarderivative of a formula of, for example:

where R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are each independently hydrogen or acetyl, andwhere the synthetic substrate is incorporated into biosynthetic pathwaysinvolving fucose.

In certain embodiments, the synthetic substrate is an azido sugarderivative of a formula of, for example:

where n is from 1 to 6, such as from 1 to 4, including from 1 to 2, andR₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are each independently hydrogen or acetyl, and whichis incorporated into biosynthetic pathways involving galactose.

Cell Surface Modification

In some embodiments, a subject method is used to modify the surface of acell. Aspects of the present disclosure include a method of modifyingthe surface of cell in vitro or in vivo. In certain cases, the methodinvolves reacting an azide group in a target molecule that includes anazide group with a modified cycloalkyne to provide for chemoselectiveligation at the cell surface. In some instances, the method includesmodifying a target molecule on a cell surface with an azide group; andreacting the azide group in the target molecule with a modifiedcycloalkyne. For example, as described above, an azido sugar can beprovided to a living cell, which azido sugar is incorporated into aglycoprotein that is displayed on the cell surface.

Modification of an Azide-modified Target Molecule with DetectableLabels, Drugs, and Other Molecules

Embodiments of the present disclosure include attachment of a moleculeof interest, e.g., a functional molecule, to an azide-modified targetmolecule. The methods may involve reacting an azide-modified targetmolecule with a subject modified cycloalkyne, where the modifiedcycloalkyne includes a molecule of interest, as described above. Asdescribed above, molecules of interest include, but are not limited to,a detectable label; a toxin (including cytotoxins); a linker; a peptide;a drug; a member of a specific binding pair; an epitope tag; and thelike.

Attachment of Target Molecules to a Support

The modified cycloalkyne can also include one or more hydrocarbonlinkers (e.g., an alkyl group or derivative thereof such as an alkylester) conjugated to a moiety providing for attachment to a solidsubstrate (e.g., to facilitate assays), or to a moiety providing foreasy separation (e.g., a hapten recognized by an antibody bound to amagnetic bead). In certain embodiments, the methods are used to providefor attachment of a protein (or other molecule that contains or can bemodified to contain an azide) to a chip in a defined orientation. Forexample, a polypeptide having an azide at a selected site (e.g., at ornear the N-terminus) can be generated, and the subject methods andcompositions used to deliver a tag or other moiety to the azide of thepolypeptide. The tag or other moiety can then be used as the attachmentsite for affixing the polypeptide to a support (e.g., solid orsemi-solid support, particular a support suitable for use as a microchipin high-throughput assays).

Attachment of Molecules for Delivery to a Target Site

The modified cycloalkyne will in some embodiments include a smallmolecule drug, toxin, or other molecule for delivery to a cell. Thesmall molecule drug, toxin, or other molecule will in some embodimentsprovide for a pharmacological activity. The small molecule drug, toxin,or other molecule will in some embodiments serve as a target fordelivery of other molecules.

Small molecule drugs may be small organic or inorganic compounds havinga molecular weight of more than 50 and less than about 2,500 daltons.Small molecule drugs may include functional groups necessary forstructural interaction with proteins, particularly hydrogen bonding, andmay include at least an amine, carbonyl, hydroxyl or carboxyl group. Insome cases, the small molecule drugs contain at least two functionalchemical groups. The drugs may include cyclical carbon or heterocyclicstructures and/or aromatic or polyaromatic structures substituted withone or more of the above functional groups. Small molecule drugs mayalso be found among biomolecules including, but not limited to,peptides, saccharides, fatty acids, steroids, purines, pyrimidines,derivatives, structural analogs or combinations thereof, and the like.

In certain embodiments, a subject modified cycloalkyne includes one of apair of binding partners (e.g., a ligand; a ligand-binding portion of areceptor; an antibody; an antigen-binding fragment of an antibody; anantigen; a hapten; a lectin; a lectin-binding carbohydrate; etc.). Forexample, the modified cycloalkyne can include a polypeptide that servesas a viral receptor and, upon binding with a viral envelope protein orviral capsid protein, facilitates attachment of virus to the cellsurface on which the modified cycloalkyne is displayed. Alternatively,the modified cycloalkyne may include an antigen that is specificallybound by an antibody (e.g., monoclonal antibody), to facilitatedetection and/or separation of host cells displaying the antigen on thecell surface. For example, the modified cycloalkyne may include a ligandbinding portion of a receptor, or a receptor-binding portion of aligand.

Utility

Embodiments of the subject modified cycloalkyne compounds, and subjectmodification methods, are useful in a variety of applications, includingresearch applications, diagnostic applications, and syntheticapplications (e.g., materials applications).

Research Applications

In some embodiments, the subject modified cycloalkyne compounds, andsubject modification methods, are useful in research applications.Applications of interest include research applications, e.g., exploringfunctional and physical characteristics of a receptor; proteomics;metabolomics; and the like. Research applications also include drugdiscovery or other screening applications.

Proteomics aims to detect, identify, and quantify proteins to obtainbiologically relevant information. Metabolomics is the detection,identification, and quantification of metabolites and other smallmolecules such as lipids and carbohydrates. Fiehn (2001) Comparative andFunctional Genomics 2:155-168; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,873,914.

Drug discovery applications include, but are not limited to, identifyingagents that inhibit cancer cell viability and/or growth. In someembodiments, provided are methods of identifying an agent that inhibitscancer cell viability and/or growth. The methods generally involvemodifying a component of the cell to include a first reactive partnerhaving an azide; contacting the cell, in the presence of a test agent,with a second reactive partner having a modified cycloalkyne, thecontacting being under physiological conditions; where the contactingresults in reaction between the azide group of the first reactivepartner and the cycloalkyne of the second reactive partner, therebysynthetically and covalently modifying the cellular component; anddetermining the effect, if any, of the test agent on the level ofmodification of the cell with the second reactive partner.

Where the cancer cell is one that produces a higher amount of acarbohydrate than a normal (non-cancerous) cell of the same cell type,the method may include identifying an agent that reduces growth and/orviability of the cancerous cell.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications

Applications of interest also include diagnostic applications, e.g., fordetection of cancer; and the like, where a subject modified cycloalkynehaving a detectable label is used to label an azide-modified targetmolecule, e.g., an azide-labeled target molecule present on a cancercell. Applications of interest also include therapeutic applications,where a drug or other therapeutic agent is delivered to anazide-modified target molecule, using a subject modified cycloalkynethat includes a covalently linked drug or other therapeutic agent.

In some embodiments, the subject compounds and methods are used for invivo imaging, e.g., to determine the metabolic or other state of a cellin an organism, e.g., an individual. For example, a subject method canbe applied to in vivo imaging of cancer, cells in an individual (e.g., amammal, including rodents, lagomorphs, felines, canines, equines,bovines, ovines, caprines, non-human primates, humans, etc.).

One exemplary, non-limiting application of a subject azide-alkynecycloaddition is in the detection of metabolic change in cells thatoccur as they alter their phenotype. For example, altered glycosylationpatterns may be indicative of the tumor phenotype, including both theunder- and over-expression of naturally-occurring glycans as well as thepresentation of glycans normally restricted to expression duringembryonic development. Examples of common antigens associated withtransformed cells are sialyl Lewis a, sialyl Lewis x, sialyl T, sialylTn, and polysialic acid (PSA). Jørgensen et al., Cancer Res. (1995) 55,1817-1819; Sell, Hum. Pathology (1990) 21, 1003-1019; Taki et al., J.Biochem. (1988) 103, 998-1003; Gabius, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl.(1988) 27, 1267-1276; Feizi, Trends Biochem. Sci. (1991) 16, 84-86;Taylor-Papadimitriou and Epenetos, Trends Biotech. (1994) 12, 227-233;Hakomori and Zhang, Chem. Biol. (1997) 4, 97-104; Dohi et al., Cancer(1994) 73, 1552. In certain embodiments, the antigens each contain aterminal sialic acid. PSA is a homopolymer of sialic acid residues up to50 units in length. Elevated levels of sialic acid are highly correlatedwith the transformed phenotype in many cancers, including gastric (Dohiet al., Cancer (1994) 73, 1552; and Yamashita, et al., J. Natl. CancerInst. (1995) 87, 441-446), colon (Yamashita, et al., J. Natl. CancerInst. (1995) 87, 441-446; Hanski et al., Cancer Res. (1995) 55, 928-933;Hanski et al., Cancer Res. (1993) 53, 4082-4088; Yang et al.,Glycobiology (1994) 4, 873-884; Saitoh et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1992)267, 5700-5711), pancreatic (Sawada et al., Int. J. Cancer (1994) 57,901-907), liver (Sawada et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1994) 269, 1425-1431),lung (Weibel et al., Cancer Res. (1988) 48, 4318-4323), prostate(Jørgensen, et al., Cancer Res. (1995) 55, 1817-1819), kidney (Roth, etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1988) 85, 2999-3000), and breastcancers (Cho, et al., Cancer Res. (1994) 54, 6302-6305), as well asseveral types of leukemia (Joshi, et al., Cancer Res. (1987) 47,3551-3557; Altevogt, et al. Cancer Res. (1983) 43, 5138-5144; Okada, etal., Cancer (1994) 73, 1811-1816). A strong correlation between thelevel of cell surface sialic acid and metastatic potential has also beenobserved in several different tumor types (Kakeji, et al., Brit. J.Cancer (1995) 71, 191-195; Takano, et al., Glycobiology (1994) 4,665-674). The collective display of multiple sialylated antigens on asingle cancer cell can account for the fact that so many different tumortypes share the high sialic acid phenotype without necessarilyexpressing an identical complement of antigens (Roth, et al., supra).Consequently, diagnostic or therapeutic strategies that target cells onthe basis of sialic acid levels have broad applicability to manycancers.

Introduction and incorporation of unnatural azidosugars (ManNAz, GalNAz)into living animals provides for detection of changes in metabolicstate. Via the attachment of the appropriate epitope tag, the modifiedcyclooctyne can label these cells in a living organism, and consequentlydetect changes in metabolic state. Early detection of tumorigenic cellsand subsequent intervention may facilitate a reduction in the severityand an increase in survival rates for cancer patients.

Materials Applications

In some embodiments, the subject modified cycloalkyne compound is usefulin materials applications. A subject cycloalkyne compound (e.g., asubject azacycloalkynone) can be dimerized such that there are twoazacycloalkynone cores linked by a linkage, such as in Formula V. Asubject cycloalkyne compound (e.g., a subject azacycloalkynone) can bepolymerized to form trimers, tetramers, pentamers, hexamers, etc., wherethe polymers can be linear or branched. The polymerized materials can beused to polymerize a monomeric unit, where the monomeric unit R₁ iswithin a compound of the formula N₃—R₁—N₃. R₁ can be an aryl, asubstituted aryl, an alkyl, a substituted alkyl, an alkyl ester, etc.Other monomer units that can be polymerized include polymers of aminoacids (polypeptides); non-peptide polymeric compounds; and cells.Reaction of a compound of the formula N₃—R₁—N₃ with a compound ofFormula V results in multimerization (polymerization) of the monomericunit R₁.

In some embodiments, a compound of Formula V is reacted with a compoundof the formula N₃—R₁—N₃ and a compound of the formula N₃—R₂—N₃, where.R₁ is a first polymer and R₂ is a second polymer. Reaction of N₃—R₁—N₃and N₃—R₂—N₃ with a compound of Formula V co-polymerizes R₁ and R₂.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are put forth so as to provide those of ordinaryskill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how tomake and use the present invention, and are not intended to limit thescope of what the inventors regard as their invention nor are theyintended to represent that the experiments below are all or the onlyexperiments performed. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy withrespect to numbers used (e.g. amounts, temperature, etc.) but someexperimental errors and deviations should be accounted for. Unlessindicated otherwise, parts are parts by weight, molecular weight isweight average molecular weight, temperature is in degrees Celsius, andpressure is at or near atmospheric. Standard abbreviations may be used,e.g., bp, base pair(s); kb, kilobase(s); pl, picoliter(s); s or sec,second(s); min, minute(s); h or hr, hour(s); aa, amino acid(s); kb,kilobase(s); bp, base pair(s); nt, nucleotide(s); i.m.,intramuscular(ly); i.p., intraperitoneal(ly); s.c., subcutaneous(ly);and the like.

Example 1 Synthesis of Biarylazacyclooctynone (BARAC) Compounds

Materials and Methods

All chemical reagents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, Acros and TCIchemicals and used without purification unless noted otherwise.Anhydrous DMF and MeOH were purchased from Aldrich or Acros in sealedbottles; all other solvents were purified as described by Pangborn etal., Organometallics (1996), 15, 1518. Magnesium sulfate was used as adrying agent and solvent was removed by reduced pressure with a BuchiRotovapor R-114 equipped with a Welch self-cleaning dry vacuum. Productswere further dried by reduced pressure with an Edwards RV5 high vacuum.Thin layer chromatography was performed EMD Silica Gel 60 F₂₅₄ plates.Unless otherwise specified, R_(f) values are reported in the solventsystem the reaction was monitored in. Flash chromatography was performedusing Silicycle SiliaFlash® P60 230-400 mesh silica.

All ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra are reported in ppm and referenced to solventpeaks. Spectra were obtain on Bruker AVQ-400®, AVB-400®, DRX-500®,AV-500®, or AV-600® instruments. IR spectra were obtained using aNicolet Magna-IR 850 spectrometer using thin films on NaCl plates. Highresolution fast atom bombardment (FAB) and electrospray ionization (ESI)mass spectra were obtained from the UC Berkeley Mass SpectrometryFacility. Flash column chromatography was performed using SilicycleSilica Flash P60 silica (40-63 μm, 230-400 mesh). High pressure liquidchromatography purifications were performed on a Varian ProStar HPLCequipped with UV/vis detector using a 100 Å C18 column (250×21.4 mm) ata flow rate of 20 mL/min.

Synthesis of Compounds:

5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (Compound 9): A modified version of themethod reported by Okamoto, et al. was employed. Okamoto, T. A.;Kobayashi, S. M.; Yamamoto, H. N., DE1952019, 1970. To a solution of2-indanone (16.3 g, 123 mmol) in ethanol (80 mL) was added phenylhydrazine (12.1 mL, 123 mmol) followed by acetic acid (12 drops) at roomtemperature. While stirring, the solution was warmed to reflux (oil bathat 85° C.) for 15 minutes at which point it was removed from the oilbath and allowed to cool to room temperature. Light yellow needle-likecrystals precipitated from the solution. Upon cooling to roomtemperature, the solution was cooled to 0° C. for 30 minutes. Thecrystals were filtered via vacuum filtration and used without furtherpurification.

The crystals were added to a 500 mL Erlenmeyer flask and dissolved in250 mL conc. HCl. This solution was heated to reflux (oil bath at 95°C.) and vigorously stirred for 10 minutes. As the reaction proceeded theproduct began to precipitate out of solution. The solution was cooled toroom temperature and poured into 300 mL of water and the productprecipitated as a brown solid. The solid was collected by vacuumfiltration, azeotroped once with toluene and concentrated in vacuo to abrown powder (20. g, 97 mmol, 79%). The product was purified byrecrystallization from acetone. Either the recrystallized product or theunpurified material was used in the next step, but we observed a minimalloss in yield for the next step using the unpurified material. ¹HNMR(500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.35 (1 H, br s), 7.65 (1 H, d, J=7.0 Hz), 7.55 (1 H,d, J=7.0 Hz), 7.48-7.43 (m, 2 H), 7.34 (1 H, t, J=7.5 Hz), 7.24-7.16 (3H, m), 3.74 (2 H, s): ¹³CNMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 148.0, 143.5, 140.5,135.1, 126.7, 125.7, 125.0, 121.9, 120.4, 119.1, 117.5, 112.2, 30.5.

5-allyl-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (Compound 18): To a solution ofcompound 9 (2.05 g, 10.0 mmol, unpurified from the previous protocol) intoluene (30 mL) was added tetrabutylammonium bromide (100 mg, cat.) andallyl bromide (1.74 mL, 20.0 mmol). To this solution was added asolution of sodium hydroxide (6 mL, 50% in water) and stirred vigorouslyat room temperature for 12 hours. The solution was diluted with toluene(50 mL) and the organic layer was separated from the aqueous layer. Theaqueous layer was extract with toluene (2 times with 25 mL toluene) andthe organic layers were pooled, dried over MgSO₄, filtered andconcentrated in vacuo to a brown oil. The oil was purified via silicagel column chromatography (8:1 hexanes:ethyl acetate, R_(f)=0.5) toyield an off-white crystalline solid (2.15 g, 8.78 mmol, 88%). ¹HNMR(600 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.67-7.65 (1 H, m), 7.57-7.54 (2 H, m), 7.35 (1 H, d,J=8.4 Hz), 7.34 (1 H, t, J=7.8 Hz), 7.25-7.21 (2 H, m), 7.19-7.16 (1 H,m), 6.14-6.07 (1 H, m), 5.20-5.18 (1 H, m), 5.08-5.04 (3 H, m), 3.75 (2H, s): ¹³CNMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 148.3, 144.5, 141.4, 135.3, 133.5,126.7, 125.7, 124.8, 124.4, 121.3, 120.8, 119.9, 119.2, 118.0, 116.8,110.1, 47.0, 30.3: IR (cm⁻¹) 3583, 3397, 3055, 2921, 1645, 1610, 1526,1496, 1461, 1440, 1407, 1383, 1345, 1265, 1153, 1104, 1020, 922, 736.HRMS (FAB) calcd for C₁₈H₁₅N [M]⁺: 245.1199; found: 245.1205.

5-allyl-10-(trimethylsilyl)-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (Compound10): To a room temperature solution of compound 18 (3.95 g, 16.1 mmol)in Et₂O (100 mL) in a room temperature water bath was added n-BuLi (12.6mL, 1.4 M in hexanes, 17.6 mmol) over 60 minutes via syringe pump withstirring. After stirring for 2 additional hours at room temperature thered-brown solution was cooled to −78° C. Once cooled TMSCl (4.0 mL, 32mmol) was added quickly drop-wise. The solution was immediately removedfrom the cold bath and allowed to warm to room temperature. The whiteprecipitate was filtered from the solution and rinsed with Et₂O (30 mL)The solvent was removed to yield an oil. The oil was purified by silicagel column chromatography (10:1 hexanes:ethyl acetate, R_(f)=0.4) toyield a light yellow oil that solidified upon standing (4.76 g, 15.0mmol, 93%). ¹HNMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.67 (1 H, d, J=7.8 Hz), 7.61 (1 H,d, J=7.2 Hz), 7.53 (1 H, d, J=7.8 Hz), 7.37 (1 H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.31 (1H, t, J=7.2 Hz), 7.22-7.19 (2 H, m), 7.14 (1 H, t, J=7.2 Hz). 6.13-6.07(1 H, m), 5.15 (1 H, d, J=13.3 Hz), 5.10 (2 H, br s), 4.97 (1 H, d,J=16.8 Hz), 3.81 (1 H, s), −0.029 (9 H, s): ¹³CNMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃) δ150.1, 143.0, 141.5, 133.5, 133.4, 125.2, 124.7, 123.9, 123.8, 123.7,121.2, 120.4, 119.3, 118.0, 116.5, 109.9, 46.8, 37.1, −2.2: IR (cm⁻¹)3583, 3400, 3056, 2952, 1645, 1604, 1516, 1497, 1461, 1436, 1419, 1377,1358, 1285, 1247, 1187, 1052, 840, 737. HRMS (FAB) calcd for C₂₁H₂₃NSi[M]⁺: 317.1545; found: 317.1600.

5-allyl-11-(trimethylsilyl)dibenzo[b,f]azocine-6,12(5H,11H)-dione(Compound 11): To a solution of compound 10 (550. mg, 1.74 mmol) in amixture of CH₂Cl₂ (50 mL) and NaHCO₃ (9 mL, sat. aq.) cooled to 0° C.was added m-CBPA (850 mg, 77% max., 3.8 mmol) portionwise over 5minutes. After stirring for 30 minutes at 0° C. the solution was allowedto warm to room temperature for an additional 1.5 hours. The reactionwas quenched with a solution of NaOH (20 mL, 1 N in water). The layerswere separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (2 timeswith 25 mL) and ethyl acetate (20 mL). The organic layers were combinedand washed with brine, dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated invacuo to yield an oil that was used directly for the next reaction.¹HNMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.36-7.34 (1 H, m), 7.25-7.18 (2 H, m),7.16-7.08 (2 H, m), 7.04-7.02 (1 H, m), 6.82-6.80 (1 H, m), 5.86-5.80 (1H, m), 5.30-5.09 (2 H, m), 4.40 (2 H, d, J=7.2 Hz), 3.79 (1 H, s), 0.15(9 H, s): ¹³CNMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 207.8, 169.9, 140.4, 138.1, 136.5,136.1, 132.6, 130.5, 130.4, 129.9, 128.8, 128.7, 127.0, 126.7, 126.6,126.1, 119.7, 58.4, 52.0, −0.18.

5-allyl-6-oxo-11-(trimethylsilyl)-5,6-dihydrodibenzo[b,f]azocin-12-yltrifluoromethanesulfonate (Compound 12): To a solution of compound 11(1.74 mmol assuming 100% yield) in THF (20 mL) at −78° C. was addedKHMDS (3.8 mL, 0.5 M in toluene, 1.9 mmol) dropwise. After 30 minutes ofstirring at −78° C., Tf₂O (0.34 mL, 2.0 mmol) was added dropwise. Thereaction was stirred for an additional 1.5 hours at −78° C. and thendiluted with Et₂O (30 mL) and warmed to room temperature. Upon reachingroom temperature the solution was worked up with NaHCO₃ (10 mL, sat.aq.). The organic layer was washed with ethyl acetate (30 mL). Theorganic layers were collected, dried over MgSO₄, filtered andconcentrated in vacuo to a yellow oil. The oil was purified by silicagel column chromatography (4:1 hexanes:ethyl acetate, R_(f)=0.65 in 2:1hexanes:ethyl acetate) to yield a yellow oil that solidified uponstanding (456 mg, 0.95 mmol, 55% over 2 steps). ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ7.32-7.23 (4 H, m), 7.20-7.13 (3 H, m), 6.85-6.83 (1 H, m), 6.21-6.11 (1H, m), 5.30-5.29 (1 H, m), 5.26-5.25 (1 H, m), 4.85 (1 H, dd, J=15.2,4.8 Hz), 3.94 (1 H, dd, J=15.6, 7.2 Hz), 0.29 (9 H, s): ¹⁹FNMR (400 MHz,CDCl₃) δ −73.0: ¹³CNMR (125 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 169.9, 149.2, 143.7, 139.2,136.0, 135.9, 133.9, 131.3, 130.9, 129.0, 128.5, 127.5, 127.3, 127.1,126.8, 125.9, 118.0 (q, J=325 Hz), 117.7, 53.4, −0.51. IR (cm⁻¹) 3391,3078, 2957, 2927, 2360, 2342, 1653, 1596, 1487, 1449, 1417, 1386, 1313,1253, 1216, 1139, 992, 910, 862, 844, 825, 766. HRMS (FAB) calcd forC₂₂H₂₃O₄NF₃SSi [M+H]⁺: 482.1064; found: 482.1071.

N-hydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)benzimidoyl chloride (Compound 13): To asolution of 4-(hydroxymethyl)benzaldehyde as reported by Zaidi, et al.(3.4 g, 25 mmol) and NH₂OH.HCl (1.9 g, 27 mmol) in a 1 to 1 mixture ofwater and ethanol (14 mL) was added ice (10 g) as reported by Liu, etal. Zaidi, S. H. H.; Loewe, R. S.; Clark, B. A.; Jacob, M. J.; Lindsey,J. S., Organic Process Research & Development (2006), 10, 304-314; Liu,K.-C.; Shelton, B. R.;, Howe, R. K., J. Org. Chem., (1980), 45,3916-3918. To this stirred solution was added NaOH (2.5 g in 2.5 mLwater, 60 mmol) slowly. After stirring at room temperature for 1.5 hoursthe solution was washed with Et₂O (25 mL) and the Et₂O was discarded.The aqueous layer was acidified with HCl (1 N in water) and extractedwith CH₂Cl₂ (three times with 25 mL) and Et₂O (two times with 25 mL).The organic layers were dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated invacuo to a white solid that was used without further purification.

To a solution of the oxime (500 mg, 3.3 mmol), in DMF (2.5 mL) was addedN-chlorosuccinimide (440 mg, 3.3 mmol) portionwise as reported by Liu,et al. Liu, K.-C.; Shelton, B. R.;, Howe, R. K., J. Org. Chem., (1980),45, 3916-3918. A small portion (˜0.2 mL) of HCl gas from the headspaceabove a solution of conc. HCl was bubbled into the solution to ensureinitiation of the reaction. After the reaction warmed and subsequentlycooled back to room temperature, water (10 mL) was added and the productwas extracted with Et₂O (three times with 20 mL) The organic layer wasdried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to yield a whitesolid (330 mg, 1.8 mmol, 55%), which was used without furtherpurification.

(Z)-5-((3-(4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)-4,5-dihydroisoxazol-5-yl)methyl)-6-oxo-11-(trimethylsilyl)-5,6-dihydrodibenzo[b,f]azocin-12-yltrifluoromethanesulfonate(Compound 14): To a room temperature heterogeneous solution of compound12 (480 mg, 1.00 mmol) and compound 13 (204 mg, 1.1 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (6mL) was added a solution of NEt₃ (0.18 mL, 2.5 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (4 mL)dropwise via syringe pump over 2 hours. After the addition was completethe homogenous solution was stirred for an additional 24 hours. Thesolution was concentrated in vacuo to a yellow oil which was purified bysilica gel column chromatography (2:1 to 1:1 hexanes:ethyl acetate,R_(f)=0.25 and 0.20 in 1:1) to give compound 14 (two separablediastereomers, total yield of 295 mg, 0.47 mmol, 47%) and unreactedcompound 12 (74 mg, 0.15 mmol, 56% yield based on recovered startingmaterial). Less Polar Diastereomer: ¹HNMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.84 (1 H,d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.67 (2 H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.40 (2 H, d, J=8.4 Hz),7.36-7.34 (1 H, m), 7.28-7.26 (1 H, m) 7.20-7.14 (4 H, m), 6.85-6.83 (1H, m), 5.65-5.62 (1 H, m), 4.71 (2 H, s), 4.46 (1 H, dd, J=14.4, 2.4Hz), 3.56 (1 H, dd, J=16.8, 10.8 Hz), 3.20 (1 H, dd, J=14.4, 9.6 Hz),3.02 (1 H, dd, J=16.8, 7.2 Hz), 2.35 (1 H, br s), 0.28 (9 H, s). ¹⁹FNMR(564 MHz, CDCl₃) δ −74.7. ¹³CNMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 171.0, 156.9, 149.4,143.8, 143.5, 139.3, 136.2, 135.5, 132.3, 132.0, 130.6, 130.1, 128.7,128.5, 128.4, 127.63, 127.59, 127.4, 127.3, 127.2, 127.1, 127.0, 126.4,118.1 (q, J=319 Hz), 77.8, 64.7, 56.6, 39.0, −0.5. More polardiastereomer: ¹HNMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.72 (2 H, d, J=7.8 Hz), 7.46 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.42 (2 H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.34-7.31 (2 H, m), 7.19 (1 H,t, J=8.4 Hz), 7.15 (1 H, t, J=7.2 Hz), 7.10-7.05 (2 H, m), 6.82 (1 H, d,J=7.8 Hz), 4.97-4.94 (1 H, m), 4.74 (2 H, s), 4.35 (1 H, dd, J=14.4, 4.8Hz), 4.03 (1 H, dd, J=14.4, 5.4 Hz), 3.60 (1 H, dd, J=16.8, 7.8 Hz),3.48 (1 H, dd, J=16.8, 10.8 Hz), 0.29 (9 H, s): ¹⁹FNMR (564 MHz, CDCl₃)δ −74.7: ¹³CNMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 171.7, 157.3, 149.3, 143.2, 142.9,139.5, 135.9, 131.8, 131.2, 129.2, 128.9, 128.6, 127.7, 127.32, 127.25,127.18, 126.9, 126.3, 118 (q, 320 Hz), 79.4, 65.0, 52.5, 38.9, −0.51. IR(cm⁻¹)3419, 3065, 2955, 2926, 2360, 2341, 1652, 1645, 1634, 1596, 1489,1448, 1417, 1361, 1310, 1253, 1211, 1138, 1046, 992, 909, 863, 845, 825,808, 767. HRMS (FAB) calcd for C₃₀H₃₀O₆N₂F₃SSi [M+H]⁺: 631.1540; found:631.1556.

(Z)-5-((3-(4-(((4-nitrophenoxy)carbonyloxy)methyl)phenyl)-4,5-dihydroisoxazol-5-yl)methyl)-6-oxo-11-(trimethylsilyl)-5,6-dihydrodibenzo[b,f]azocin-12-yltrifluoromethanesulfonate (Compound 19): To a mixture of bothdiastereomers of compound 14 (56 mg, 0.088 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (1.5 mL) andpyridine (0.035 mL, 0.35 mmol) was added p-nitrophenyl chloroformate (42mg, 0.21 mmol) all at once. After stirring at room temperature for 3hours the reaction was diluted with CH₂Cl₂ (5 mL) and water (3 mL) wasadded to quench excess reagent. The layers were separated and theaqueous layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3 times with 10 mL). Theorganic layers were dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuoto a yellow oil. The oil was purified by silica gel columnchromatography (3:1 hexanes:ethyl acetate, R_(f)hexanes:ethyl acetatefor the two diastereomers) to yield a yellow solid (64 mg, 0.081 mmol,91%). ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) (1:0.5 mix of separable diastereomers) δ8.25-8.22 (2 H, m), 7.83 (0.6 H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.77-7.72 (1.9 H, m),7.51-7.42 (1.8 H, m), 7.40-7.30 (3.3 H, m), 7.24-7.11 (3.6 H, m),7.10-7.02 (0.5 H, m), 6.85-6.81 (0.9 H, m), 5.69-5.62 (0.6 H, m),5.32-5.29 (2 H, 2 singlets), 5.00-4.94 (0.3 H, m), 4.48 (0.6 H, dd,J=14.4, 2.0 Hz), 4.32 (0.3 H, dd, J=14.4, 4.8 Hz), 4.05 (0.3 H, dd,J=15.6, 5.6 Hz), 3.65-3.58 (1 H, m), 3.57-3.45 (0.3 H, m), 3.39 (0.15 H,d, J=6.4 Hz), 3.21 (0.6 H, dd, J=14.4, 9.6 Hz), 3.06 (0.6 H, dd, J=16.8,7.2 Hz), 0.29-0.27 (9 H, two s): ¹⁹FNMR (376 MHz, CDCl₃) δ −72.9, −73.0:¹³CNMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 171.7, 170.9, 157.0, 156.5, 155.5, 152.5,149.8, 145.5, 143.8, 142.7, 139.3, 136.3, 136.2, 135.7, 135.5, 131.9,131.7, 131.0, 130.5, 130.0, 129.2, 128.9, 128.7, 128.6, 128.4, 127.64,127.56, 127.3, 127.2, 127.15, 127.10, 126.9, 126.4, 126.3, 125.4, 123.8,121.8, 79.5, 78.1, 70.3, 56.5, 52.5, 38.8, 21.1, 14.3, −0.5, −0.6.

BARAC (Compound 15) was synthesized as shown in Scheme 1.

Fisher indole synthesis gave indole (compound 9) as described inOkamoto, et al. Okamoto, T. A.; Kobayashi, S. M.; Yamamoto, H. N.,German Pat. DE1952019 (1970). The Fisher indole step can be easilyaccomplished with a wide range of commercially available hydrazines and1-indanones. The indole nitrogen was alkylated with allyl bromide usingphase transfer conditions as reported by Nifant'ev, et al., to protectthe indole nitrogen and also introduce a functional handle for futureprobe attachment. Nifant'ev, I. E.; Kashulin, I. A.; Bagrov, V. V.;Abilev, S. K.; Lyubimova, I. K. Russian Chemical Bulletin, (2001), 50,1439-1445. This initial sequence was amenable to large-scale preparationwith only one purification step at the end of the sequence. The TMSgroup was then installed in a straightforward manner to form compound10.

Oxidation of indole (compound 10) with excess m-CPBA opened the centralrings to give the cyclic keto-amide (compound 11), which was unstable tosilica-gel purification. These reaction conditions left the terminalalkene untouched. Treatment of the potassium enolate of ketone (compound11) with trifluoromethanesulfonyl anhydride gave compound 12. Selectivereaction of the terminal alkene with a nitrile oxide generated in situfrom chlorooxime (compound 13) installed a linker for conjugation to aprobe molecule as reported by Huisgen, R. and Gutsmiedl, et al. Huisgen,R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed, (1963), 2, 565-598; and Gutsmiedl, K.; Wirges,C. T.; Ehmke, V.; Carell, T. Org. Lett., 2009, 11, 2405-2408. Reactionof compound 14 with CsF introduced the strained alkyne in under 30 minat rt. The synthesis of BARAC (compound 15) from compound 9 wasaccomplished in 6 steps in 18% overall yield (see FIG. 11). BARAC(compound 15) was stable to traditional chromatography and storage atroom temperature.

BARAC (Compound 15): To a mixture of both diastereomers of compound 14(110. mg, 0.175 mmol) in CH₃CN (15 mL) was added CsF (160 mg, 1.05 mmol)all at once. The reaction was stirred vigorously for 45 minutes and thenfiltered. The solvent was removed and the resulting oil was purified bysilica gel column chromatography (1:1 to 1:2 hexanes: ethyl acetate,R_(f)=0.1 in 1:1) to yield compound 15 as an off-white solid (61 mg,0.15 mmol, 85%). Compound 15 was stored as a solid at 0° C. protectedfrom light and oxygen. ¹HNMR (400 MHz MHz, CDCl₃) (0.8:1 mixture ofrotamers) δ 7.73 (1 H, d, J=7.6 Hz), 7.68-7.62 (1.9 H, m), 7.60 (1.7 H,d, J=8 Hz), 7.55-7.53 (2.8 H, m), 7.49-7.41 (7.4 H, m), 7.40-7.31 (7.4H, m), 4.87-4.76 (1.8 H, m), 4.69, 4.66 (3.5 H, 2 s), 3.48 (0.8 H, dd,J=16.8, 10.4 Hz), 3.40-3.14 (3.8 H, m), 3.00 (0.8 H, dd, J=14.0, 5.6Hz), 2.88 (1 H, dd, J=14.4, 3.2 Hz), 2.80 (1 H, dd, J=16.8, 7.6 Hz),2.25 (1.5 H, br s): ¹³CNMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 176.8, 176.6, 156.2,156.1, 155.3, 155.1, 149.0, 148.8, 143.5, 143.4, 130.7, 130.4, 129.9,129.7, 129.6, 129.1, 128.6, 128.5, 128.3, 128.2, 127.9, 127.8, 127.2,127.1, 126.9, 126.8, 126.7, 126.4, 122.7, 122.6, 122.1, 122.0, 110.2,110.1, 109.1, 109.0, 79.4, 79.0, 64.6, 55.5, 54.8, 38.8, 37.9. IR (cm⁻¹)3426, 3064, 2924, 2247, 1666, 1659, 1650, 1594, 1467, 1449, 1355, 1244,1046, 1015, 911, 762, 731.

A crystal structure for the unsubstituted BARAC was obtained (FIG. 12).

BARAC-biotin (Compound 16) and BARAC-Fluor (Compound 17) weresynthesized as shown in Scheme 2.

BARAC-biotin (Compound 16): To a flask containing compound 19 (68 mg,0.086 mmol) was added a solution ofN-(13-amino-4,7,10-trioxatridecanyl)biotinamide as reported by Wilbur,et al. (36 mg, 0.086 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (5.0 mL) with stirring. Wilbur, D.S.; Hamlin, D. K.; Vessella, R. L.; Stray, J. E.; Buhler, K. R.;Stayton, P. S.; Klumb, L. A.; Pathare, P. M.; Weerawarna, S. A.Bioconjug. Chem., (1996), 7, 689. After 5 minutes NEt₃ (1 drop) wasadded and the reaction was allowed to stir at room temperature for 3hours until all of the starting material was consumed. To this solutionwas added tetrabutylammonium fluoride (0.20 mL, 1.0 M in THF, 0.20 mmol)and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 45 minutes. Thesolution was placed directly on to a silica gel column forchromatographic purification (7-10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂, R_(f)=0.45 in 10%MeOH/CH₂Cl₂) to yield an off white solid (45 mg, 0.051 mmol, 60%).Compound 16 was stored as a solid at 0° C. protected from light andoxygen. ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.76-7.56 (7.8 H, m), 7.43-7.28 (14.2H, m), 6.52 (1.6 H, br s), 5.82-5.76 (1.2 H, m), 5.66-5.58 (1.6 H, m),5.19-5.06 (4 H, m), 5.02 (1.6 H, s), 4.91-4.80 (1.6 H, m), 4.46 (2 H, brt), 4.26 (2 H, br t), 3.66-3.49 (26.4 H, m), 3.46-3.21(12.6 H, m),3.16-3.09 (2 H, m), 3.06-2.98 (0.7 H, m), 2.94-2.79 (3.9 H), 2.68 (2 H,d, J=12.6 Hz), 2.16 (4 H, m), 1.86-1.56 (18 H, m), 1.46-1.36 (4.8 H, m):¹³CNMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 176.5, 173.2, 163.9, 156.4, 156.1, 156.0,155.1, 149.0, 148.8, 139.3, 130.7, 130.4, 129.9, 129.7, 128.8, 128.7,128.6, 128.5, 128.2, 127.9, 127.8, 126.9, 126.8, 126.6, 126.5, 126.4,122.7, 122.6, 122.1, 122.0, 110.2, 110.1, 109.0, 79.5, 79.2, 70.54,70.49, 70.2, 70.1, 69.9, 69.6, 65.8, 61.9, 60.2, 55.6, 55.4, 54.8, 50.8,40.6, 39.2, 38.7, 37.8, 37.7, 36.0, 29.5, 29.0, 28.2, 28.1, 25.7, 24.0,22.7, 19.8, 13.7. HRMS (FAB) calcd for C₄₇H₅₇O₉N₆S [M+H]⁺: 881.3902;found: 881.3923.

BARAC-Fluor (Compound 17): To a solution of compound 19 (30. mg, 0.040mmol) and piperazine-fluorescein (Compound 20; as reported by Hangauer,M. J. and Bertozzi, C. R.) (16 mg, 0.040 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (2 mL) and THF(1 mL) was added NEt₃ (2 drops) with stirring. Hangauer, M. J.;Bertozzi, C. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., (2008), 73, 1008-1017. Thesolution was stirred for 6 hours at room temperature and then warmed to45° C. for 5 hours. After cooling the reaction to room temperaturetetrabutylammonium fluoride (0.2 mL, 1.0 M in THF, 0.20 mmol) was addedand this was allowed to stir for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture wasconcentrated in vacuo to an orange solid that was purified by silica gelcolumn chromatography (10% methanol in CH₂Cl₂; R_(f)=0.4) to yield anorange solid (23 mg, 0.028 mmol, 69%). The identity of compound 17 wasconfirmed by mass spec and reactivity. The purity was confirmed by HPLC(FIG. 7). Compound 17 was stored as a solid at 0° C. protected fromlight and oxygen. HRMS (FAB) calcd for C₅₁H₃₈N₄O₈ [M+H]⁺: 835.2762;found: 835.2769.

7-methoxy-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (29a). To a solution of3-methoxyphenylhydrazine hydrochloride (3.65 g, 20.9 mmol) and1-indanone (2.77 g, 21.0 mmol) in ethanol (11.8 mL) was added glacialacetic acid (3 drops). The solution was stirred at reflux (85° C.) for15 minutes and cooled to room temperature. Orange precipitate began toform upon cooling, and the mixture was subsequently emerged in an icewater bath to further induce crystallization. The solid was collected byvacuum filtration and dissolved in 22 mL isopropanol. Sulfuric acid (36N, 1.5 mL) was added via syringe, and the resulting solution was stirredat reflux (90° C.) for 16 hours. Upon cooling to room temperature, thesolution was basified to pH 10 with aqueous sodium hydroxide (2% bymass) resulting in the formation of precipitate. The solid was collectedby vacuum filtration to yield 29a as an orange solid (2.55 g, 10.9mmol). Crude product was brought on to the next step withoutpurification. For purposes of characterization, the product was purifiedby flash column chromatography (20:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate). ¹H NMR (600MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.18 (s, 1H), 7.50-7.52 (m, 2H), 7.40-7.41 (d, 1H, J=7.2Hz), 7.30-7.32 (t, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.16-7.19 (td, 1H, J=7.8, 1.2 Hz),6.95 (d, 1H, J=2.4 Hz), 6.83-6.84 (dd, 1H, J=8.4, 2.4 Hz), 3.88 (s, 3H),3.69 (s, 2H); ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 156.2, 147.3, 142.3, 141.5,135.3, 126.5, 125.3, 124.1, 121.9, 119.5, 119.4, 116.7, 109.6, 96.2,55.7, 30.3. FTIR: cm⁻¹ 3399, 1612, 1405, 1255, 1155, 1041, 820.ESI-HRMS: Calcd. for C₁₆H₁₃NO⁺ [M]⁺: 235.0992, found 235.0990.

7-methoxy-5-methyl-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (31a). To a solutionof 29a (60.1 mg, 0.26 mmol) in benzene (2 mL) was added aqueous sodiumhydroxide (50% by mass, 540 μL), tetrabutylammonium iodide (50 mg, 0.14mmol), and iodomethane (130 μL, 2.09 mmol). The reaction mixture wasstirred vigorously at 40° C. for 16 hours and then at 55° C. for 2additional hours. Upon cooling to room temperature, the mixture wasdiluted with benzene (10 mL) and H₂O (10 mL), and the aqueous layer wasextracted 2×10 mL ethyl acetate. Organic layers were combined, washed1×15 mL H₂O, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated toyield a brown solid. Crude product was purified by flash columnchromatography (20:1 to 10:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give a tan brownsolid in 64% yield (40 mg, 0.16 mmol). ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.60(d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.51-7.52 (m, 2H), 7.32-7.34 (t, 1H, J=7.2 Hz),7.18-7.20 (t, 1H, J=7.2 Hz), 6.84-6.85 (m, 2H), 3.98 (s, 3H), 3.93 (s,3H), 3.66 (s, 2H); ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 156.0, 147.6, 143.8,142.7, 135.7, 126.4, 125.4, 123.9, 120.3, 119.6, 118.7, 116.9, 108.9,93.8, 55.7, 31.1, 30.1. FTIR: cm⁻¹ 2935, 1605, 1566, 1492, 1385, 1310,1263, 1230, 1210, 1040, 812, 755. EI-HRMS: Calcd. for C₁₇H₁₅NO⁺ [M]⁺:249.1154, found 249.1158.

7-methoxy-5-methyl-10-(trimethylsilyl)-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole(32a). Compound 31a (240 mg, 0.96 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous ether(6.5 mL) and the reaction mixture was immersed in a 25° C. water bath.n-BuLi (1.5M in hexanes, 742 μL, 1.11 mmol) was added dropwise viasyringe pump over one hour. Following addition of base, the reactionmixture was stirred for one hour at 25° C. and then cooled to −78° C.TMSCl (256 μL, 2.02 mmol) was added rapidly via syringe and theresulting cloudy mixture was immediately warmed to 25° C. for 1.5 hours.The reaction mixture was diluted with 20 mL ether, filtered, andconcentrated in vacuo to yield a brown solid which was subsequentlypurified by flash column chromatography (15:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate) togive a yellow solid in 34% yield (104 mg, 0.32 mmol). ¹H NMR (600 MHz,CDCl₃): δ 7.69 (d, 1H, 7.8 Hz), 7.53 (d, 1H, J=9.0 Hz), 7.51 (d, 1H,J=7.2 Hz), 7.29-7.32 (t, 1H , J=7.8 Hz), 7.16-7.18 (td, 1H, J=7.2, 1.2Hz), 6.87 (d, 1H, J=2.4 Hz), 6.80-6.82 (dd, 1H, J=9.0, 2.4 Hz), 4.05 (s,3H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 3.73 (s, 1H), 0.03 (s, 9H); ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃):δ 155.9, 149.4, 142.9, 142.5, 133.9, 125.0, 124.5, 123.3, 123.0, 120.7,118.3, 116.9, 108.3, 93.7, 55.7, 36.9, 31.3, −2.4. FTIR: cm⁻¹ 1619,1370, 1212, 1106, 1062, 1035, 838, 805. EI-HRMS: Calcd. for C₂₀H₂₃NOSi⁺[M]⁺: 321.1549, found 321.1546.

Methoxy-BARAC (119). To a solution of 32a (37.5 mg, 0.116 mmol) indichloromethane (3.33 mL) and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ (700 μL) at 0° C.was added m-CPBA portionwise over 3 minutes. The mixture was stirred at0° C. for 20 minutes and then warmed to room temperature over 40minutes. The reaction was quenched via addition of 1N NaOH (4 mL) andthe resulting aqueous layer was extracted 2×10 mL dichloromethane and1×10 mL ethyl acetate. Organic layers were combined and washed 1×25 mLbrine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuoto yield a yellow oil (33a), which was immediately brought on to thenext step without purification.

To a solution of 33a (0.16 mmol assuming 100% yield from the previousstep) in anhydrous THF at −78° C. was added potassiumhexamethyldisilazide (0.5 M in toluene, 351 μL, 0.18 mmol) dropwise viasyringe to give a dark red solution which was stirred an additional 10minutes at −78° C. Triflic anhydride (32 μL, 0.19 mmol) was then addedand the solution immediately turned yellow. The solution was stirred for30 minutes at −78° C. prior to dilution with 5 mL anhydrous ether andaddition of tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride (1M in THF, 1.25 mL). Afterfive additional minutes at −78° C., the reaction mixture was warmed toroom temperature over 40 minutes then quenched with saturated aqueousNaHCO₃ (7 mL) The aqueous layer was subsequently extracted 1×15 mL ethylacetate and the organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfateand concentrated to yield a red/brown oil. Product was purified by flashcolumn chromatography (10:1 to 2:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate) to yield 119as a red solid in 10% yield (2.9 mg, 0.01 mmol). ¹H NMR (600 MHz,CDCl₃): δ 7.57-7.59 (m, 1H), 7.40-7.45 (quin d, 2H, J=7.5, 7.8, 1.2 Hz),7.32-7.35 (m, 2H), 7.21 (d, 1H, J=2.4 Hz), 6.90-6.91 (dd, 1H, J=8.4, 2.4Hz), 3.87 (s, 3H), 2.73 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 176.8,161.0, 158.1, 148.9, 129.3, 128.2, 128.1, 126.0, 125.5, 122.7, 115.9,113.8, 113.5, 108.9, 108.2, 55.6, 38.7. FTIR: cm⁻¹ 2925, 1668, 1597,1292, 1074, 666. ESI-HRMS: Calcd. for C₁₇H₁₄O₂N⁺ [M+H]⁺: 264.1019, found264.1021.

7-fluoro-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (29b). 3-fluorophenylhydrazinehydrochloride (2.00g, 12.3 mmol) and 1-indanone (1.63 g, 12.3 mmol) weredissolved in ethanol (31 mL) and stirred at reflux (85° C.) for 12minutes. Glacial acetic acid (3 drops) was added, and the solution wasstirred an additional 5 minutes at 85° C., then cooled to roomtemperature. Ethanol was removed under reduced pressure to yield abrown/red solid which was subsequently dissolved in isopropanol (21 mL).Sulfuric acid (36 N, 1.4 mL) was added to the reaction mixture viasyringe and the resulting solution was stirred at reflux (90° C.) for 16hours. Upon cooling to room temperature, the solution was basified to pH10 with aqueous sodium hydroxide (2% by mass) resulting in the formationof a green precipitate. This solid was collected by vacuum filtration,dissolved in dichloromethane, and diluted with water. The aqueous layerwas extracted 3×15 mL dichloromethane, and the remaining organic layerwas dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated to yield abrown solid as a mixture of regioisomers (2:1.1) in 78% crude yield(2.14 g, 9.6 mmol). This mixture was brought on to the next step withoutfurther purification. For purposes of characterization, a small fractionof desired product was purified by numerous passes through a biotage 40Mcolumn (20:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate). ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.32 (s,1H), 7.52-7.56 (m, 2H), 7.45 (d, 1H, J=7.2 Hz), 7.32-7.34 (t, 1H, J=7.8Hz), 7.20-7.23 (td, 1H, J=5.4, 1.2 Hz), 7.12-7.14 (dd, 1H, J=9.6, 1.8Hz), 6.91-6.94 (m, 1H), 3.71 (s, 2H). ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 159.6(d, J=235.5 Hz), 147.4, 143.5 (d, J=3.5 Hz), 140.6 (d, J=12.3 Hz),134.9, 126.6, 125.5, 124.7, 121.6, 121.5, 119.4 (d, J=9.0 Hz), 117.1,108.7 (d, J=25.5 Hz), 98.6 (d, J=27.0 Hz), 30.3; ¹⁹F NMR (CD₃CD, 376MHz): δ −120.1-−120.0 (td, J=9.3, 5.3 Hz), −122.0 (m) (note—the secondpeak in the fluorine spectrum is likely a result of unreacted hydrazoneintermediate); FTIR: cm⁻¹ 3404, 2921, 1726, 1580, 1408, 1289, 1131, 758.ESI-HRMS: Calcd. for C₁₅H₁₀FN⁺ [M]⁺: 223.0792, found 223.0792.

7-fluoro-5-methyl-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (31b). To a solutionof 29b (as a 2:1.1 mixture of regioisomers, 2.14 g, 9.58 mmol) inbenzene (31 mL) was added aqueous sodium hydroxide (50% by mass, 5.00mL), tetrabutylammonium iodide (184 mg, 0.50 mmol), and iodomethane(4.77 mL, 76.6 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred vigorously at 40°C. for 17.5 hours and subsequently cooled to room temperature. Thesolution was then diluted with benzene (10 mL) and H₂O (10 mL), and theaqueous layer was extracted 2×20 mL ethyl acetate. Organic layers werecombined, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated invacuo. Crude product was purified by flash column chromatography (15:1to 15:1.5 hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give a solid, inseparable mixture of31b and its corresponding regioisomer in 72% yield (1.63 g, 6.87 mmol).Spectral data are reported for the mixture. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃):7.66 (d, 0.5H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.622 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.56 (d, 0.5H, J=7.2Hz), 7.50-7.54 (m, 2H), 7.33-7.37 (m, 1.5H), 7.20-7.25 (m, 1.5 H),7.09-7.15 (m, 1H), 7.03-7.05 (dd, 1H, J=9.9, 2.4 Hz), 6.90-6.93 (td, 1H,J=9.3 Hz, 2.4 Hz, 1.8 Hz), 6.81-6.84 (dd, 0.5H, J=10.2, 7.8 Hz), 4.05(s, 1.5H), 4.00 (s, 3H), 3.82 (s, 1H), 3.67 (s, 2H). ¹³C NMR (150 MHz,CDCl₃): δ 159.2 (d, J=235.5 Hz), 155.9 (d, J=244.5 Hz), 148.1, 147.5,144.6 (d, J=4.5 Hz), 144.1, 143.9 (d, J=12.0 Hz), 141.5, (d, J=12.0 Hz),134.9, 134.5, 126.2, 126.1, 125.3, 125.2, 124.5, 124.2, 121.0 (d, J=7.5Hz), 120.4, 119.8, 119.1 (d, J=10.5 Hz), 117.3, 117.0, 116.8, 113.1 (d,J=24.0 Hz), 107.6 (d, J=25.5 Hz), 105.5 (d, J=4.5 Hz), 104.2 (d, J=19.5Hz), 96.0 (d, J=25.5 Hz), 30.7, 30.5, 30.3, 29.5; ¹⁹F NMR (CD₃CD, 376MHz): δ −120.0 (m), −122.2 (m); FTIR: cm⁻¹ 3056, 2892, 1608, 1573, 1530,1486, 1187, 1099, 932, 756, 717.

7-fluoro-5-methyl-10-(trimethylsilyl)-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole(32b). Compound 31b (as a 2:1.1 mixture of regioisomers, 1.61 g, 6.79mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous ether (46 mL) and the reaction mixturewas immersed in a 25° C. water bath. n-BuLi (1.5M in hexanes, 5.25 mL,7.87 mmol) was added dropwise via syringe pump over one hour. Followingaddition of base, the reaction mixture was stirred for one hour at 25°C. and then cooled to −78° C. TMSCl (1.81 mL, 14.25 mmol) was addedrapidly via syringe and the resulting mixture was immediately warmed to25° C. for 1.5 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with 20 mL ether,filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to yield a dark green solid whichwas subsequently purified by multiple rounds of flash columnchromatography (15:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate; 20:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate)to give the desired regioisomer in pure form and 2% yield. This lowyield is a result of the similar polarities of regioisomers, whichrender separation a challenge. Spectral data are reported for themixture that remained following purification of a small percentage ofthe desired regioisomer. As a result, product ratios do not representthose of the original product mixture. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.74(d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.71 (d, 0.5H, J=7.2 Hz), 7.51-7.55 (m, 2.5H),7.31-7.34 (m, 1.5H), 7.21-7.24 (td, 1H, J=7.2, 1.2 Hz), 7.18-7.21 (td,0.5H, J=7.2, 1.2 Hz), 7.17 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.12-7.14 (m, 1H),7.05-7.07 (dd, 0.5H, J=9.9, 2.4 Hz), 6.87-6.91 (m, 0.5H), 6.80-6.83(ddd, 1H, J=10.2, 8.4, 1.2 Hz), 4.10 (s, 3H), 4.05 (s, 1.5H), 3.93 (s,1H), 3.75 (s, 0.5H), −0.04 (s, 4.5H), −0.98 (d, 9H, J=0.6 Hz); ¹³C NMR(150 MHz, CDCl₃): 8 159.3 (d, J=237.0 Hz), 156.0 (d, J=246 Hz), 150.4,149.6, 144.3 (d, J=10.5 Hz), 143.6 (d, J=3.0 Hz), 143.0, 142.0 (d,J=12.0 Hz), 133.4, 132.7, 125.1, 124.9, 124.6, 124.6, 123.8, 123.52,123.1, 121.3 (d, J=9.0 Hz), 120.6 (d, J=10.5 Hz), 120.3 (d, J=21.0 Hz),117.6, 117.3, 113.0 (d, J=21.0 Hz), 107.4 (d, J=24.0 Hz), 105.6, 105.5,104.4 (d, J=19.5 Hz), 96.2 (d, J=27.0 Hz), 37.3, 36.8, 31.5, 31.3,−2.42, −2.52 (d, J=3.0 Hz); ¹⁹F NMR (CD₃CD, 376 MHz): δ −117.1 (d, J=6.8Hz), −120.5-−120.1 (td, J=9.4, 3.8 Hz) FTIR: cm⁻¹ 3057, 2953, 1621,1572, 1436, 1360, 1248, 1048, 839, 756, 727.

Fluoro-BARAC (120). To a stirred solution of 32b (36.5 mg, 0.12 mmol) indichloromethane (4 mL) and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ (750 μL) at 0° C.was added m-CPBA (77%, 93 mg, 0.41 mmol) portionwise over 3 minutes. Thereaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 2 hours and then warmed toroom temperature over 15 minutes. The reaction was quenched via additionof IN NaOH (5 mL) and the resulting aqueous layer was extracted 2×10 mLdichloromethane and 1×10 mL ethyl acetate. Organic layers were combinedand washed 1×25 mL brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, andconcentrated in vacuo to yield an orange oil (33b) which was immediatelybrought on to the next step without purification.

To a solution of 33b (0.12 mmol assuming 100% yield from the previousstep) in anhydrous THF (2 mL) at −78° C. was added potassiumhexamethyldisilazide (0.5 M in toluene, 258 μL, 0.13 mmol) dropwise viasyringe to give an orange solution which was stirred an additional 20minutes at −78° C. Triflic anhydride (23 μL, 0.14 mmol) was then added,and the solution immediately turned yellow. The solution was stirred for15 minutes at −78° C. prior to dilution with 5 mL anhydrous ether andaddition of tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride (1M in THF, 1.2 mL) After anadditional 45 minutes at −78° C., the reaction mixture was warmed toroom temperature over 1 hour then quenched with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃(10 mL). The aqueous layer was subsequently extracted 2×15 mL ethylacetate and the organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfateand concentrated in vacuo to yield a brown oil. Crude product waspurified by flash column chromatography (15:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate) togive an orange solid in 29% yield (8.6 mg, 0.03 mmol). ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CDCl₃): δ 7.59-7.61 (m, 1H), 7.45-7.47 (m, 2H), 7.36-7.41 (m, 3H),7.08-7.13 (td, 1H, J=8.4, 2.8 Hz), 2.73 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (150 MHz,CDCl₃): δ 176.5, 162.9 (d, J=250.5 Hz), 158.0 (d, J=10.5 Hz), 149.2,129.5, 128.7, 128.4 (d, J=9.6 Hz), 126.3, 125.5, 122.1, 118.4, 117.8 (d,J=22.8 Hz), 115.2 (d, J=21.9 Hz), 109.4, 107.6, 38.5; ¹⁹F NMR (CD₃CD,376 MHz): δ −107.2 (dd, J=8.6, 6.0 Hz) FTIR: cm⁻¹ 2926, 1789, 1673,1469, 1334, 1273, 1018; ESI-HRMS: Calcd. for C₁₆H₁₁FNO⁺ [M+H]⁺:252.0819, found 252.0820.

3-methoxy-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (37a). To a solution of phenylhydrazine (1.21 mL, 1.33 g, 12.3 mmol) and 6-methoxy-1-indanone (2.01 g,12.4 mmol) in ethanol (20 mL) was added glacial acetic acid (4 drops).The solution was stirred at reflux (85° C.) for 15 minutes and cooled toroom temperature. Upon cooling, pale yellow crystals precipitated out ofsolution. Crystals were collected via vacuum filtration and dissolved inisopropanol (41 mL) Sulfuric acid (36 N, 1.39 mL) was added via syringeand the resulting solution was stirred at reflux (90° C.) for 18hours—some precipitate formed over the course of the reaction. Uponcooling to room temperature, the solution was basified to pH 10 withaqueous sodium hydroxide (2% by mass) resulting in the formation ofadditional precipitate. The solid was collected by vacuum filtration toyield a brown solid which was subsequently dissolved in ethyl acetate(10 mL), diluted with H₂O (10 mL), and extracted 1×15 mL dichloromethaneto remove excess water. The organic layers were combined, dried overanhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated to yield a brown solid in61% crude yield (1.76 g, 7.50 mmol). Crude product was brought on to thenext step without further purification. For purposes ofcharacterization, the product was purified by flash columnchromatography (20:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate). ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ8.28 (s, 1H), 7.64-7.65 (d, 1H, J=7.2 Hz), 7.42-7.44 (m, 2H), 7.16-7.21(qd, 2H, J=7.2, 1.2 Hz), 7.03-7.04 (d, 1H, J=2.4 Hz), 6.77-6.78 (dd, 1H,J=7.8, 2.4 Hz), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.68 (s, 2H); ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ159.0, 143.1, 140.6, 139.8, 136.1, 125.7, 124.8, 123.2, 121.8, 120.2,119.0, 112.0, 109.9, 103.8, 55.6, 29.5. FTIR: cm⁻¹ 3390, 2934, 1609,1577, 1528, 1467, 1274, 1251, 1037, 837, 745: Calcd. for C₁₆H₁₄ON⁺[M+H]⁺: 236.1070, found 263.1071.

3-methoxy-5-methyl-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (38a). To a solutionof 37a (592 mg, 2.52 mmol) in benzene (8 mL) was added aqueous sodiumhydroxide (50% by mass, 4 mL), tetrabutylammonium iodide (82.7 mg, 0.22mmol), and iodomethane (1.25 mL, 20.13 mmol). The reaction mixture wasstirred vigorously at 40° C. for 16 hours and then at 55° C. for 2additional hours. Upon cooling to room temperature, the mixture wasdiluted with benzene (20 mL) and H₂O (20 mL), and the aqueous layer wasextracted 2×15 mL ethyl acetate. Organic layers were combined, washed1×25 mL H₂O, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated toyield a brown solid. Crude product was purified by flash columnchromatography (20:1 to 10:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give a tan brownsolid in 87% yield (545 mg, 2.19 mmol). ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.65(d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.42 (d, 1H, J=8.4 Hz), 7.38 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz),7.25-7.27 (t, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.18-7.21 (m, 2H), 6.78-6.79 (dd, 1H, J=8.4Hz, 2.4 Hz), 3.99 (s, 3H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 3.63 (s, 2H). ¹³C NMR (150 MHz,CDCl₃): δ 158.74, 144.24, 141.77, 140.11, 136.45, 125.63, 123.98,121.54, 121.16, 119.45, 118.95, 109.63, 109.01, 104.58, 55.50, 30.83,29.19. FTIR: cm⁻¹ 3049, 2900, 1606, 1526, 1469, 1250, 1197, 1037, 742.

3-methoxy-5-methyl-10-(trimethylsilyl)-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole(39a). A round bottom flask containing 38a (982 mg, 3.94 mmol) in dryether (24 mL) was immersed in a 25° C. water bath. n-BuLi (1.5 M in THF,3.05 mL, 4.57 mmol) was added via syringe pump over one hour, generatingan orange solution. Following addition of base, the reaction mixture wasstirred at 25° C. for an additional 45 minutes and then cooled to −78°C. TMSCl (1.05 mL, 8.27 mmol) was added rapidly via syringe, and thereaction mixture was stirred an additional 4 minutes at −78° C., thenwarmed to room temperature over 1.5 hours. The reaction was subsequentlydiluted with ether, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. Crude productwas purified by flash column chromatography (15:1 to 6:1 hexanes-ethylacetate) to yield an inseparable mixture of 39a and its correspondingdi-silylated indole (3:1 39a:side product) in 82% yield (1.04 g, 3.22mmol, 61% yield desired product). 39a was brought on to the next step asa mixture. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.79 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.52 (d,1H, J=8.4 Hz), 7.47 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.39 (d, 1H, J=2.4 Hz), 7.34-7.37(t, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.26-7.30 (t, 1H, J=7.2 Hz), 6.90-6.92 (dd, 1H,J=8.4, 3.0 Hz), 4.09 (s, 3H), 3.99 (s, 3H), 3.75 (s, 1H), 0.01 (s, 9H);¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 157.7, 142.9, 142.2, 141.9, 134.5, 124.7,124.3, 123.5, 120.9, 120.1, 118.9, 109.4, 109.0, 103.7, 55.4, 35.6,30.8, −2.4. FTIR: cm⁻¹ 3049, 2951, 1617, 1520, 1464, 1246, 1202, 1042,839, 741. EI-HRMS: Calcd. for C₂₀H₂₃NOSi⁺ [M]⁺: 321.1549, found321.1548.

Methoxy-BARAC (123). To a solution of 39a (105 mg, 0.33 mmol) indichloromethane (12 mL) and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ (1.9 mL) at 0° C.was added m-CPBA (77%, 263 mg, 1.17 mmol) portionwise over 3 minutes.The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 20 minutes and then warmedto room temperature over 40 minutes. The reaction was subsequentlyquenched via addition of 1N NaOH (15 mL) and the resulting aqueous layerwas extracted 2×15 mL dichloromethane and 1×15 mL ethyl acetate. Organiclayers were combined and washed 1× brine, dried over anhydrous magnesiumsulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to yield an orange oil (40a), whichsolidified under high vacuum. Crude product was immediately brought onto the next step.

To a solution of 40a (0.33 mmol assuming 100% yield from the previousstep) in anhydrous THF (4 mL) at −78° C. was added potassiumhexamethyldisilazide (0.5 M in toluene, 722 μL, 0.36 mmol) dropwise viasyringe to give an orange solution which was stirred an additional 12minutes at −78° C. Triflic anhydride (65 μL, 0.39 mmol) was added andthe reaction mixture immediately turned yellow. The solution was stirredfor 15 minutes at −78° C. prior to dilution with 10 mL anhydrous etherand addition of tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride (1M in THF, 4.0 mL) Thereaction mixture was warmed to room temperature over 2.5 hours thenquenched with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ (10 mL) The aqueous layer wassubsequently extracted 2×15 mL ethyl acetate and the organic layer wasdried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated to yield anorange oil. The product was purified by flash column chromatography(10:1 to 5:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate) to yield an orange solid in 8% yield(6.7 mg, 0.03 mmol). The compound was later purified by HPLC. A 25 mgsample of 123 was dissolved in a 4 mL solution of acetonitrile (B) andwater (A) (2:3 A:B). The compound was injected (2mL×2 runs) onto a C18column and eluted using a gradient of 35% B to 75% B over 15 minutesfollowed by a gradient of 10% B to 100% B over 5 minutes, isocraticelution at 100% B for 5 minutes and a gradient from 100% B to 35% B over10 minutes. The product was collected at 19 minutes. Elution wasmonitored at 210 and 254 nM. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.60 (d, 1H,J=8.0 Hz), 7.35-7.44 (m, 4H), 7.29 (d, 1H, J=8.5 Hz), 7.17 (d, 1H, J=2.5Hz), 6.94-6.97 (dd, 1H, J=8.8, 2.5 Hz), 3.88 (s, 3H), 2.74 (s, 3H); ¹³CNMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 176.2, 160.1, 156.1, 150.9, 129.3, 129.2, 128.0,127.7, 127.1, 122.7, 114.9, 113.9, 111.8, 109.5, 107.4, 55.6, 38.7.FTIR: cm⁻¹ 2928, 2246 1667, 1610, 1471, 1332, 1225, 1033. Calcd. forC₁₇H₁₄O₂N⁺ [M+H]⁺: 264.1019, found 264.1022.

3-fluoro-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (37b). To a solution of phenylhydrazine (1.32 mL, 13.32 mmol) and 6-fluoro-1-indanone (2.02 g, 13.46mmol) in ethanol (7.6 mL) was added glacial acetic acid (3 drops). Thesolution was stirred at reflux (85° C.) for 17 minutes and cooled toroom temperature. Upon cooling, white crystals precipitated out ofsolution. These crystals were collected by vacuum filtration anddissolved in isopropanol (23 mL) Sulfuric acid (36N, 1.51 mL) was addedvia syringe and the resulting solution was stirred at reflux (90° C.)for 18 hours and subsequently cooled to room temperature. The solutionwas then basified to pH 10 via addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide (2%by mass) resulting in the formation of precipitate. The solid wascollected by vacuum filtration to yield 37b as a brown solid in 46%crude yield (1.38 g, 6.17 mmol). Crude product was brought on to thenext step without further purification. For purposes ofcharacterization, the product was purified by flash columnchromatography (20:1 to 20:1.5 hexanes-ethyl acetate). ¹H NMR (600 MHz,CDCl₃): δ 8.26 (s, 1H), 7.64-7.65 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.42-7.44 (m, 2H),7.20-7.23 (td, 1H, J=7.2, 1.2 Hz), 7.16-7.19 (td, J=7.2, 1.2 Hz)7.12-7.14 (dd, 1H, J=8.4, 2.4 Hz), 6.88-6.91 (m, 1H), 3.68 (s, 1H); ¹³CNMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 161.5-163.1 (d, J=242 Hz), 142.9 (d, J=2.4 Hz),142.3 (d, J=2.9 Hz), 140.7, 136.5 (d, J=9.6 Hz), 126.0 (d, J=9.0 Hz),124.5, 123.9, 122.3, 120.4, 119.2, 112.2, 111.0 (d, J=22.7 HZ), 104.8(d, J=24.3 Hz), 29.8; FTIR: cm⁻¹ 3398, 1589, 1528, 1462, 1268, 1187,744, 665. ESI-HRMS: Calcd. for C₁₅H₁₀FN⁺ [M]⁺: 223.0792, found 223.0792.

3-fluoro-5-methyl-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (38b). To a solutionof 37b (1.38 g, 6.17 mmol) in benzene (12 mL) was added aqueous sodiumhydroxide (33% by mass, 3.2 mL), tetrabutylammonium iodide (122.5 mg,0.33 mmol), and iodomethane (3.04 mL, 48.78 mmol). The reaction mixturewas stirred vigorously at 40° C. for 19 hours and then cooled to roomtemperature. The mixture was diluted with benzene (20 mL) and H₂O (20mL), and the aqueous layer was extracted 2×15 mL ethyl acetate. Organiclayers were combined, washed 1×25 mL H₂O, dried over anhydrous magnesiumsulfate and concentrated to yield an orange/brown solid. Crude productwas purified by flash column chromatography (10:1 to 4:1 hexanes-ethylacetate) to give a 38b as a white solid in 71% yield (976 mg, 4.37mmol). ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.64 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.39-7.41 (dd,1H, J=7.8, 4.8 Hz), 7.49 (d, 1H, J=8.4 Hz), 7.25-7.30 (m, 2H), 7.20-7.23(t, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 6.90-6.94 (m, 1H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.55 (s, 2H). ¹³CNMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 162.1 (d, J=240 Hz), 143.5 (d, J=3 Hz), 143.1(d, J=2.6 Hz), 141.8, 136.7 (d, J=9.5 Hz), 125.9 (d, J=9.2Hz), 123.8,122.1, 121.6, 119.6, 119.1, 110.6 (d, J=22.5 Hz), 109.7, 104.9 (d,J=24.6 Hz), 30.7 (d, J=1.7 Hz), 29.3.

3-fluoro-5-methyl-10-(trimethylsilyl)-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole(39b). A round bottom flask containing 38b (976 mg, 7.37 mmol) in dryether (30 mL) was immersed in a 25° C. water bath. n-BuLi (1.5 M in THF,3.38 mL, 5.07 mmol) was added via syringe pump over one hour, generatinga dark red solution. Following addition of base, the reaction mixturewas stirred at 25° C. for an additional 50 minutes and then cooled to−78° C. TMSCl (1.17 mL, 9.18 mmol) was added rapidly via syringe, andthe reaction mixture was stirred an additional 5 minutes at −78° C.,then warmed to room temperature over 1.5 hours. The reaction wassubsequently diluted with ether, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo.Crude product was purified by flash column chromatography (15:1hexanes-ethyl acetate) to yield an inseparable mixture of 39b and itscorresponding di-silylated indole (6.8:1 ratio 39b:side product) in 80%yield (1.08 g, 3.48 mmol, 70% yield desired product). 39b was brought onto the next step as a mixture with the di-silylated indole. NMR (400MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.67 (d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.34-7.46 (m, 2H), 7.25-7.29 (t, 1H,J=7.2 Hz), 7.15-7.19 (t, 1H, J=7.2 Hz), 6.90-6.95 (td, 1H, J=8.8, 2.4Hz), 4.06 (s, 3H), 4.74 (s, 1H), −0.01 (s, 9H).

Fluoro-BARAC (124). To a solution of 39b (535 mg, 1.73 mmol) indichloromethane (60 mL) and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ (11 mL) at 0° C.was added m-CPBA (77%, 1.05 g, 3.15 mmol) portionwise over 4 minutes.The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 25 minutes and then warmedto room temperature over 50 minutes. The reaction was subsequentlyquenched via addition of 1N NaOH (20 mL) and the resulting aqueous layerwas extracted 2×20 mL dichloromethane and 1×20 mL ethyl acetate. Organiclayers were combined and washed 1× brine, dried over anhydrous magnesiumsulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to yield a dark orange oil. Crudeproduct (40b) was immediately brought on to the next step withoutfurther purification.

To a solution of 40b (1.73 mmol assuming 100% yield from the previousstep) in anhydrous THF (20 mL) at −78° C. was added potassiumhexamethyldisilazide (0.5 M in toluene, 3.78 mL, 1.89 mmol) dropwise viasyringe to give a red/brown solution which was stirred an additional 25minutes at −78° C. Triflic anhydride (343 μL, 2.04 mmol) was then added,and the solution immediately turned yellow. The solution was stirred for10 minutes at −78° C. prior to dilution with 15 mL anhydrous ether andaddition of tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride (1M in THF, 15.0 mL) Thereaction mixture was warmed to room temperature over 50 minutes thenquenched with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ (50 mL). The aqueous layer wassubsequently extracted 1×30 mL ethyl acetate and the organic layer wasdried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated to yield a brownoil. The product was purified by flash column chromatography. Threeattempts at purification were required to achieve the desired purity(15:1 to 5:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate; 15:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate; 5:1:5hexanes-acetone-toluene) 124 was isolated as an orange solid in 4% yield(17 mg, 0.07 mmol).

The compound was later purified by HPLC. A 10 mg sample of 124 wasdissolved in a 2.5 mL solution of acetonitrile(B) and water(A) (2:3A:B). The compound was injected onto a C18 column and eluted using agradient of 35% B to 75% B over 15 minutes followed by a gradient of 10%B to 100% B over 5 minutes, isocratic elution at 100% B for 5 minutesand a gradient from 100% B to 35% B over 10 minutes. The product wascollected at 18.5 minutes. Elution was monitored at 210 and 254 nM. ¹HNMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.61 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.45-7.48 (td, 1H,J=7.2, 1.8 Hz), 7.39-7.42 (m, 2H), 7.33-7.37 (m, 2H), 7.14-7.17 (td, 1H,J=7.8 Hz, 2.4 Hz), 2.74 (s, 3H). ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 175.0,162.4 (d, J=252 Hz), 156.3, 151.0 (d, J=6 Hz), 129.8, 129.9, 128.2 (d,J=8.7 Hz), 128.2, 127.4, 122.1, 118.3 (d, J=3.5 Hz), 116.5 (d, J=22.5Hz), 113.8 (d, J=24.2 Hz), 108.7, 108.1, 38.6; FTIR: cm⁻¹ 2923, 1666,1467, 1428, 1330, 1209: Calcd. for C₁₇H₁₄O₂N⁺ [M+H]⁺: 252.0819, found252.0821.

3-fluoro-7-methoxy-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (55). To a solutionof 3-methoxyphenyl hydrazine (2.01 g, 11.53 mmol) and6-fluoro-1-indanone (1.73 g, 11.50 mmol) in ethanol (22 mL) was addedglacial acetic acid (3 drops). The solution was stirred at reflux (85°C.) for 15 minutes and cooled to room temperature. Ethanol was removedin vacuo and the resulting brown oil was dissolved in isopropanol (39mL). Sulfuric acid (36N, 1.28 mL) was added via syringe and the solutionwas stirred at reflux (90° C.) for 15 hours and subsequently cooled toroom temperature. The reaction was then basified to pH 10 via additionof aqueous sodium hydroxide (2% by mass) resulting in the formation ofprecipitate. The solid was collected by vacuum filtration to yield abrown residue, which was subsequently dissolved in 20 mLdichloromethane, and diluted with 15 mL H₂O. The organic layer waspartitioned and the aqueous layer was extracted 1×15 mL ethyl acetateand 1×15 mL dichloromethane. Organic layers were pooled, dried overanhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated to yield 55 as a mixtureof regioisomers (3:1 55:undesired). Crude product was brought on to thenext step without further purification. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.17(s, 1H), 7.50 (d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.38-7.41 (dd, 1H, J=8.4, 5.4 Hz),7.05-7.07 (dd, 1H, J 9.0, 2.4 Hz), 6.927 (d, 1H, J=2.4 Hz), 6.83-6.86(m, 2H), 3.87 (s, 3H), 3.63 (s, 2H). ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 162.4(d, J=241.5 Hz), 156.6, 142.4 (d, J=2.4 Hz), 141.7, 141.3 (d, J=3.0 Hz),136.8 (d, J=9.6 Hz), 125.8 (d, J=9.2 Hz), 124.0, 119.7, 119.1, 110.3 (d,J=22.7 Hz), 110.0, 104.2 (d, J=24.5 Hz), 96.1, 60.4, 29.8. ¹⁹F NMR(CD₃CD, 376 MHz): δ −113.9 (m), −115.9 (m); FTIR: cm⁻¹ 3381, 1614, 1531,1464, 1270, 1188, 1157, 859, 814. ESI-HRMS: Calcd. for C₁₆H₁₂FNO⁺ [M]⁺:253.0897, found 253.0894.

3-fluoro-7-methoxy-5-methyl-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (56). To asolution of 55 (as a 3:1 mixture of regioisomers, 1.26 g, 4.98 mmol) inbenzene (25 mL) was added aqueous sodium hydroxide (50% by mass, 3 mL),tetrabutylammonium iodide (152.1 mg, 0.41 mmol), and iodomethane (2.48mL, 39.8 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred vigorously at 40° C.for 17 hours and then cooled to room temperature over 3.5 hours. Themixture was diluted with benzene (20 mL) and H₂O (20 mL), and theaqueous layer was extracted 2×20 mL ethyl acetate. Organic layers werecombined, washed 1×25 mL H₂O, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate andconcentrated. Crude product was purified by flash column chromatography(40:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give 56 as one regioisomer in 71% yield(713 mg, 2.67 mmol, % yield based on amount of 55 in starting materialmixture). ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.49 (d, 1H, J=9 Hz), 7.37-7.39(dd, 1H, J=7.8 Hz, 4.8 Hz), 7.21-7.23 (dd, 1H, J=9.3 Hz, 1.8 Hz),6.82-6.86 (m, 3H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 3.91 (s, 3H). ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃):δ 162.2 (d, J=240 Hz), 156.4, 142.8, 142.7 (d, J=3 Hz), 142.6 (d, J=3Hz), 137.1 (d, J=9.5 Hz), 125.8 (d, J=9.2 Hz), 122.4, 119.8, 118.4,109.9 (d, J=22.5 Hz), 109.3, 104.3 (d, J=24.8 Hz), 93.7, 55.7, 30.9,29.5; ¹⁹F NMR (CD₃CD, 376 MHz): δ −116.0 (q, J=14.1, 9.4 Hz); FTIR: cm⁻¹1611, 1592, 1530, 1460, 1380, 1258, 1221, 1161. EI-HRMS: Calcd. forC₁₇H₁₄FNO⁺ [M]⁺: 267.1059, found 267.1062.

3-fluoro-7-methoxy-5-methyl-10-(trimethylsilyl)-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole(57). A round bottom flask containing 56 (201 mg, 0.75 mmol) in dryether (6 mL) was immersed in a 25° C. water bath. n-BuLi (1.5 M in THF,602 μL, 0.90 mmol) was added via syringe pump over one hour, generatingan orange solution. Following addition of base, the reaction mixture wasstirred at 25° C. for an additional 1.5 hours and then cooled to −78° C.TMSCl (200 μL, 1.58 mmol) was added rapidly via syringe, and thereaction mixture was stirred an additional 5 minutes at −78° C., thenwarmed to room temperature over 3.5 hours. The reaction was subsequentlydiluted with ether, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. Crude productwas purified by flash column chromatography (20:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate)to yield 57 as a solid in 62% yield (159 mg, 0.47 mmol). ¹H NMR (600MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.54 (d, 1H, J=8.4 Hz), 7.39-7.41 (dd, 1H, J=8.4, 4.8Hz), 7.33-7.35 (dd, 1H, J=9, 2.4 Hz), 6.83-6.89 (m, 3H), 3.98 (s, 3H),3.93 (s, 3H), −0.02 (s, 9H). ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 61.4 (d,J=238.5 Hz), 156.2, 144.5 (d, J=2.0), 143.0, 141.5 (d, J=3 Hz), 134.8(d, J=9.5 Hz), 125.4, 124.79 (d, J=9.15 Hz), 120.9, 118.0, 109.4 (d,J=22.8 Hz), 108.6, 103.9 (d, J=24.3 Hz), 93.5, 5.6, 36.3, 31.0, −2.5;¹⁹F NMR (CD₃CD, 376 MHz): δ −117.6 (m); FTIR: cm⁻¹2952, 1608, 1523,1372, 1223, 1163, 1107, 1042, 939, 841.

Methoxyfluoro-BARAC (41). To a solution of 57 (109 mg, 0.32 mmol) indichloromethane (11.5 mL) and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ (1.9 mL) at 0° C.was added m-CPBA (77%, 264 mg, 1.18 mmol) portionwise over 4 minutes.The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 minutes and then warmedto room temperature over 20 minutes. The reaction was subsequentlyquenched via addition of 10 mL 1N NaOH and the resulting aqueous layerwas extracted 2×15 mL dichloromethane and 1×15 mL ethyl acetate. Organiclayers were combined and washed 1× brine, dried over anhydrous magnesiumsulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to yield an orange oil. Crude productwas immediately brought on to the next step without furtherpurification.

The oil (0.322 mmol assuming 100% yield from the previous step) wasdissolved in anhydrous THF (3.8 mL) at −78° C. and potassiumhexamethyldisilazide (0.5 M in toluene, 708 μL, 0.35 mmol) was addeddropwise via syringe to give a red solution which was stirred anadditional 25 minutes at −78° C. Triflic anhydride (65 μL, 0.39 mmol)was then added, and the reaction mixture immediately turned yellow. Thesolution was stirred for 20 minutes at −78° C. prior to dilution with 18mL anhydrous ether and addition of tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride (1M inTHF, 5.0 mL) The reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature over 3hours and subsequently quenched with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ (30 mL).The aqueous layer was extracted 2×20 mL ethyl acetate and the organiclayer was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated toyield a brown oil. The product was purified by flash columnchromatography (20:1 to 5:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate), and 41 was isolatedas an orange solid in 17% yield (16 mg, 0.06 mmol). ¹H NMR (600 MHz,CDCl₃): δ 7.30-7.34 (m, 3H), 7.20 (d, 1H, J=2.4 Hz), 7.12-7.15 (dt, 1H,J=8.4, 2.4 Hz), 6.90-6.92 (dd, 1H, J=8.4, 2.4 Hz), 3.87 (s, 3H), 2.74(s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 175.2, 162.1 (d, J=250.5 Hz),161.0, 157.8, 150.5 (d, J=7.5 Hz), 128.1, 127.8 (d, J=7.5 Hz), 118.7 (d,J=3.0 Hz), 116.4 (d, J=22.5 Hz), 115.9, 113.8, 113.6, 113.6, 108.9,106.9, 55.6, 38.6; ¹⁹F NMR (CD₃CD, 376 MHz): δ −108.9 (q, J=13.5, 8.3Hz); FTIR: cm⁻¹ 2939, 2246, 1669, 1603, 1471, 1321, 1291, 1026.FAB-HRMS: Calcd. for C₁₇H₁₃FNO₂ ⁺ [M+H]⁺: 282.0925, found 282.0928.

2-fluoro-7,9-dimethyl-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (47b). To asolution of 3,5-dimethylphenylhydrazine (2.54 g, 14.7 mmol) and5-fluoro-1-indanone (2.21 g, 14.7 mmol) in ethanol (24 mL) was addedglacial acetic acid (3 drops). The solution was stirred at reflux (85°C.) for 15 minutes and cooled to room temperature. Ethanol was removedin vacuo and the resulting orange solid was dissolved in isopropanol (24mL). Sulfuric acid (36N, 1.65 mL) was added via syringe and the mixturewas stirred at reflux (90° C.) for 17 hours and subsequently cooled toroom temperature. The solution was basified to pH 10 via addition ofaqueous sodium hydroxide (2% by mass) resulting in the formation of aprecipitate. The solid was collected by vacuum filtration to yield 47bin 76% crude yield (2.80 g, 11.2 mmol). Crude product was brought on tothe next step without further purification. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ8.12 (s, 1H), 7.32-7.35 (dd, 1H, J=8.2, 5.2 Hz), 0.24-7.26 (m, 1H),7.01-7.05 (m, 2H), 6.79 (s, 1H), 3.83 (s, 2H), 2.60 (s, 3H), 2.44 (s,3H); ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 160.7 (d, J=361.5), 150.0 (d, J=12.0Hz), 140.9, 140.6, 131.8, 131.2, 128.9, 122.6, 122.3, 121.6 (d, J=4.5Hz), 117.2 (d, J=13.5 Hz), 113.4 (d, J=25.5 Hz), 113.1 (d, J=25.5 Hz),109.6, 31.7 (d, J=3.0 Hz), 21.8, 19.3; ¹⁹F NMR (CD₃CD, 376 MHz): δ−117.9 (m).

2-fluoro-5,7,9-trimethyl-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (48b). To asolution of 47b (2.74 g, 10.9 mmol) in benzene (59 mL) was added aqueoussodium hydroxide (50% by mass, 5.9 mL), tetrabutylammonium iodide (289mg, 0.78 mmol), and iodomethane (5.42 mL, 87.1 mmol). The reactionmixture was stirred vigorously at 40° C. for 16 hours and then cooled toroom temperature. The mixture was diluted with benzene (20 mL) and H₂O(20 mL), and the aqueous layer was extracted 2×20 mL ethyl acetate.Organic layers were combined, washed 1×25 mL H₂O, dried over anhydrousmagnesium sulfate and concentrated to yield a brown solid. Crude productwas purified by flash column chromatography (15:1 hexanes-ethyl acetatefollowed by a second column 40:1 to 26:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give48b in 39% yield (1.12 g, 4.24 mmol). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ7.51-7.53 (dd, 1H, J=8.2, 5.2 Hz), 7.237-7.260 (m, 1H), 7.99-7.06 (td,1H, J=9.2, 2.4 Hz), 6.99 (s, 1H), 6.78(s, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H), 3.80 (s,2H), 2.60 (s, 3H), 2.46 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 160.5 (d,J=361.5 Hz), 150.4 (d, J=13.5 Hz), 142.42, 141.72, 131.6 (d, J=3.0 Hz),131.3, 129.0, 121.9, 121.6, 119.5 (d, J=4.5 Hz), 117.1 (d, J=13.5 Hz),113.2 (d, J=34.5 Hz), 113.5 (d, J=34.1 Hz), 107.1, 31.2 (d, J=2.9 Hz),30.8, 21.8, 19.0; ¹⁹F NMR (CD₃CD, 376 MHz): δ −118.0 (m); FTIR: cm⁻¹3011, 2917, 1588, 1527, 1449, 1417, 1360, 1267, 1212.

2-fluoro-5,7,9-trimethyl-10-(trimethylsilyl)-5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole(49b). A round bottom flask containing 48b (1.11g, 4.17 mmol) in dryether (27 mL) was immersed in a 25° C. water bath. n-BuLi (1.5 M in THF,3.33 mL, 5.00 mmol) was added via syringe pump over one hour, generatinga brown solution. Following addition of base, the reaction mixture wasstirred at 25° C. for an additional 30 minutes and then cooled to −78°C. TMSCl (1.11 mL, 8.76 mmol) was added rapidly via syringe and thesolution was subsequently warmed to room temperature. The reaction wasdiluted with ether, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. Crude productwas purified by flash column chromatography (20:1 hexanes-ethyl acetatefollowed by a second column 40:1 to 26:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate) to yield49b as an orange solid in 78% yield (1.09 g, 3.24 mmol). ¹H NMR (400MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.57-7.60 (dd, 1H, J=8.4, 5.2 Hz), 7.19-7.22 (dd, 1H,J=9.6, 2.4 Hz), 7.00-7.04 (m, 2H), 6.78 (s, 1H), 4.01 (s, 3H), 3.97 (s,1H), 2.61 (s, 3H), 2.49 (s, 3H), −0.15 (s, 9H); ¹³C NMR (150 MHz,CDCl₃): δ 159.7 (d, J=289.5 117.2 (d, J=10.5 Hz), 111.7 (d, J=27.9 Hz),111.6 (d, J=29.7 Hz), 107.0, 38.2, 31.0, 21.8, 20.1, −2.2; ¹⁹F NMR(CD₃CD, 376 MHz): δ −118.6 (m) FTIR: cm⁻¹ 2952, 1583, 1445, 1357, 1248,1198, 1037, 838. EI-HRMS: Calcd. for C₂₁H₂₄FNSi⁺ [M]⁺: 337.1662, found337.1664.

Dimethylfluoro-BARAC (44). To a solution of 49b (97 mg, 0.29 mmol) indichloromethane (10 mL) and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ (1.7 mL) at 0° C.was added m-CPBA (77%, 247 mg, 1.10 mmol) portionwise over 3 minutes.The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 20 minutes and then warmedto room temperature over 1.5 hours. The reaction was subsequentlyquenched via addition of 1N NaOH (10 mL) and the resulting aqueous layerwas extracted 2×10 mL dichloromethane and 1×10 mL ethyl acetate. Organiclayers were combined and washed 1× brine, dried over anhydrous magnesiumsulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to yield an orange oil (50b). Crudeproduct was immediately brought on to the next step without furtherpurification.

To a solution of 50b (0.29 mmol assuming 100% yield from the previousstep) in anhydrous THF (3.4 mL) at −78° C. was added potassiumhexamethyldisilazide (0.5 M in toluene, 740 μL, 0.32 mmol) dropwise viasyringe to give an orange solution which was stirred an additional 1hour at −78° C. Triflic anhydride (58 μL, 0.35 mmol) was then added, andthe reaction mixture immediately turned bright yellow. The solution wasstirred for 30 minutes at −78° C. prior to dilution with 10 mL anhydrousether and addition of tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride (1M in THF, 4.5 mL)The reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature over 40 minutes andsubsequently quenched with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ (30 mL) The aqueouslayer was extracted 2×20 mL ethyl acetate and the organic layer wasdried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated to yield a brownoil. The product was purified by flash column chromatography (20:1 to2:1 hexanes-ethyl acetate followed by a second column 20:1 hexanes-ethylacetate) to yield 44 as a white solid in 5% yield (3.8 mg, 0.01 mmol).The compound was later purified by HPLC. A sample of 44 was dissolved ina solution of acetonitrile(B) and water(A) (2:3 A:B). The compound wasinjected onto a C18 column and eluted using a gradient of 35% B to 75% Bover 15 minutes followed by a gradient of 10% B to 100% B over 5minutes, isocratic elution at 100% B for 5 minutes and a gradient from100% B to 35% B over 10 minutes. Elution was monitored at 210 and 254nM. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.54-7.56 (dd, 1H, J=8.4, 5.4 Hz), 7.27(s, 1H), 7.10-7.13 (td, 1H, J=8.4, 3.0 Hz), 7.03-7.05 (m, 2H), 2.71 (s,3H), 2.42 (s, 3H), 2.39 (s, 3H). ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 176.07,162.78, 156.71, 145.01 (d, J=3 Hz), 140.51, 137.70, 129.93, 127.45,127.014 (d, J=9.3 Hz), 124.88 (d, J=10.35 Hz), 118.84, 115.33 (d, J=22.4Hz), 113.55 (d, J=23.0 Hz), 110.30, 108.87 (d, J=3.9 Hz), 38.65, 21.52,21.28. ¹⁹F NMR (CD₃CD, 376 MHz): δ −109.4 (m).

Cell Culture Procedures

Jurkat (human T-cell lymphoma) and CHO (Chinese hamster ovarian) cellswere maintained in RPMI-1640 (Jurkat, Invitrogen Life Technologies,Inc.) or F12 (CHO, HyClone Laboratory) media supplemented with 10% fetalcalf serum (FCS), penicillin (100 units/mL), and streptomycin (0.1mg/mL) in a 5% CO₂ water-saturated atmosphere. The cells were maintainedat densities between 1×10⁵ and 1.6×10⁶ cells/mL.

Reaction Rate of BARAC with Benzyl Azide

The reactivity of BARAC (compound 15) was studied using benzyl azide asa model substrate. The second-order rate constant in acetonitrile atroom temperature (rt) was 0.96 M⁻¹s⁻¹ (see FIG. 1), over 12-fold higherthan the rate constant for DIFO under identical conditions and over 450times higher than for an unactivated cyclooctyne. The half-life for thereaction of equimolar amounts of BARAC with benzyl azide at 10 mM wasabout 45 s at rt. The half-life of the potential background reaction of2 mM BARAC with 5 mM glutathione in CD₃CN:D₂O (1:2) was 24 h at rt.

The reaction of BARAC (compound 15) and benzyl azide was monitored by ¹HNMR for 30 min at 25° C. BARAC and benzyl azide were separatelydissolved in CD₃CN and mixed together in a 1:1 ratio at concentrationsat 10 mM. A 2:1 ratio was used to determine the exact ratio of reagentsbased on remaining starting material upon completion of the reaction.The percent conversion was calculated by the disappearance of BARAC andbenzyl azide relative to the formation of product as determined byintegration. No products other than the two regioisomers of additionwere apparent by ¹H NMR. The triazole isomers were produced in a ˜1:1ratio. The second-order rate constant was determined by plotting1/[compound 15] versus time. The plot was fit to a linear regression andthe slope corresponds to the second-order rate constant. Shown in FIG. 1are data from four replicate experiments. The four lines had an averageof 0.96±0.04 M⁻¹s⁻¹.

Second order rate constants for the cycloaddition of BARAC analogs withbenzyl azide were determined using the method described above. Allreactions were performed in CD₃CN (5 mM) at room temperature. Theresults are shown in FIG. 13. All rate constants have units of M⁻¹s⁻¹

Cell Surface Azide Labeling and Detection

BARAC's performance in live cell labeling experiments was studied. Usinga carbamate linkage, BARAC (compound 15) was conjugated to biotin,giving BARAC-biotin (compound 16), or to fluorescein, giving BARAC-Fluor(compound 17; see FIG. 8( a) and Scheme 2). Azides were introduced intothe cell surface glycans using a strategy as reported by Laughlin, S. T.and Bertozzi, C. R. Laughlin, S. T.; Bertozzi, C. R. Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. U.S.A., (2009), 106, 12-17. Cultured Jurkat cells were treated withperacetylated N-azidoacetyl mannosamine (Ac₄ManNAz) to introduce thecorresponding azido sialic acids (SiaNAz) into their cell-surfaceglycoproteins and lipids. The cells were labeled with BARAC-biotin at aconcentration of 1 μM for 1 h. Staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC-avidin) and flow cytometry analysis produced the data shown inFIG. 8( b).

Jurkat cells were incubated in untreated media or media containing 25 μMAc₄ManNAz. After 3 d, the cells were twice concentrated (500×g, 3 min,4° C.) and resuspended in 10 mL FACS buffer (PBS containing 1% FCS, 2×10mL) and cells (approx 350,000 per a well) were placed in a 96 wellV-bottom plate. The cells were concentrated by centrifugation (2500×g, 3min, 4° C.), resuspended in 200 μL cold FACS buffer, and againconcentrated by centrifugation (2500×g, 3 min, 4° C.). The cells werethen reacted for 1 h (unless otherwise noted) at rt with the desiredreagent (no reagent, BARAC-biotin, DIFO-biotin as reported by Baskin, etal., or DIBO-biotin as reported by Ning, et al.). Baskin, J. M.;Prescher, J. A.; Laughlin, S. T.; Agard, N. J.; Chang, P. V.; Miller, I.A.; Lo, A.; Codelli, J. A.; Bertozzi, C. R. Proc. Nad Acad. Sci. U.S.A.,(2007), 104, 16793-16797; Ning, X.; Guo, J.; Wolfert, M. A.; Boons,G.-J. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., (2008), 47, 2253-2255. After 1 h, the cellswere thrice concentrated by centrifugation (2500×g, 3 min, 4° C.) andresuspended in 200 μL cold FACS buffer. Following and additionalconcentration by centrifugation (2500×g, 3 min, 4° C.), cells wereresuspended in FACS buffer (100 μL) containing FITC-avidin (1:200dilution of 1 mg/mL stock, Sigma-Aldrich) and incubated in the dark at4° C. for 15 min. Following the incubation, cells were concentrated bycentrifugation, resuspended in 200 μL cold FACS buffer, concentrated bycentrifugation, and another FITC-avidin incubation was performed. Afterthe second FITC-avidin labeling, the cells were thrice concentrated bycentrifugation (2500×g, 3 min, 4° C.) and resuspended in 200 μL coldFACS buffer. The cells were then diluted to 400 μL for flow cytometryanalysis. Flow cytometry was performed on a BD Biosciences FACSCaliburflow cytometer equipped with a 488-nm argon laser. All flow cytometryexperiments were performed with three replicate samples.

The cells showed robust azide-specific labeling with no significantbackground labeling compared to cells treated with FITC-avidin alone(see FIG. 3). Even at a concentration of 50 nM, BARAC-biotin stillshowed significant cell labeling in 1 h (FIG. 3).

For comparative purposes, similar experiments were performed usingDIFO-biotin and DIBO-biotin (see FIG. 8( b)). BARAC-biotin showed morelabeling than DIFO-biotin and DIBO-biotin after 1 h. To quantify thedifferences in reaction kinetics among the reagents in the context ofcell surface labeling, cell surface fluorescence was measured at varioustime points during a 30-min incubation with the cyclooctynes (FIG. 8(c)). After 1 min, BARAC-biotin gave a 10-fold higher signal than eitherDIFO-biotin or DIBO-biotin, consistent with BARAC's ˜12-fold higher rateconstant. The high level of reactivity of BARAC-biotin was notaccompanied by any cytotoxicity compared to cells treated with nocyclooctyne reagent (see FIG. 5).

Cell-Surface Labeling of Azido Glycans on CHO Cells and Imaging byFluorescence Microscopy

BARAC-Fluor (compound 17) was evaluated as a reagent for directfluorescence imaging of live Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. CHOcells grown either in the presence or absence of 50 μM Ac₄ManNAz weretreated with 5 μM BARAC-Fluor (compound 17) for 5 min at rt, washed andthen imaged (FIG. 9( a)-(h)). The azide-labeled CHO cells showedsignificant cell surface fluorescence.

CHO cells were incubated for 3 days in medium containing 50 μM Ac₄ManNAzin an eight-well LabTek II chambered cover glass (Nunc). The medium waspoured off, and the cells were washed three times with 200 μl of FACSbuffer. The cells then were treated with a solution of BARAC-Fluor,diluted from a 1 mM stock solution in DMSO, in FACS buffer for 5 minutesat 5 μM at room temperature. The cells were also treated with Hoechst33342 dye to stain the nucleus (1:1,000 dilution in medium of a 1 mg/mlstock solution in DMSO) as soon as possible after the addition ofBARAC-Fluor. The cells washed four times with 200 μl of FACS buffer, andimaged at room temperature.

For the no-wash experiment the cells were treated as before, but wereincubated in a 250 nM solution of BARAC-Fluor in FACS-buffer. After 25minutes at room temperature Hoechst 33342 dye (1:1,000 dilution inmedium of a 1 mg/ml stock solution in DMSO) was added. After anadditional 5 minutes, the cells were imaged without washing away excessreagent. The +Az were imaged first to ensure that the 30-minute timepoint was as accurate as possible. The labeled cells showed significantlabeling above the background (FIG. 9( i)-(p)).

Figure Legends

FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a graph of the rate of reaction between BARAC(compound 15) and benzyl azide over time according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The reaction of BARAC (compound 15) and2-azido-N-isopropylacetamide was monitored by ¹H NMR for 30 min. at 25°C. BARAC and the azidoacetamide were separately dissolved in CD₃CN andmixed together in a 1:1 ratio at concentrations at close to 10 mM (9.2mM). Hexamethyldisilane (approx 0.3 equiv) was used as an internalstandard. The percent conversion was calculated by the ratio between theformation of products and hexamethyldisilane as determined byintegration. No products other than the regioisomers of addition wereapparent by ¹H NMR. The ratio of triazole isomers is complicated byrotamers. The second-order rate constant was determined by plotting1/[compound 15] versus time. The plot was fit to a linear regression andthe slope corresponds to the second-order rate constant. Shown are datafrom three replicate experiments. The three lines had an average of0.64±0.06 M⁻¹s⁻¹.

FIG. 2 shows a graph of the rate of reaction between BARAC (compound 15)and 2-azido-N-isopropylacetamide over time according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure. The reaction of BARAC (compound 15) and2-azido-N-isopropylacetamide was monitored by ¹H NMR for 30 min. at 25°C. BARAC and the azidoacetamide were separately dissolved in CD₃CN andmixed together in a 1:1 ratio at concentrations at close to 10 mM (9.2mM). Hexamethyldisilane (approx 0.3 equiv) was used as an internalstandard. The percent conversion was calculated by the ratio between theformation of products and hexamethyldisilane as determined byintegration. No products other than the regioisomers of addition wereapparent by ¹H NMR. The ratio of triazole isomers is complicated byrotamers. The second-order rate constant was determined by plotting1/[compound 15] versus time. The plot was fit to a linear regression andthe slope corresponds to the second-order rate constant. Shown are datafrom three replicate experiments. The three lines had an average of0.64±0.06 M⁻¹s⁻¹.

FIG. 3 shows a graph of the dose dependence of BARAC-biotin (compound16) according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Cell-surfaceglycan labeling with BARAC-biotin (compound 16). Jurkat cells wereincubated in the presence or absence of 25 μM Ac₄ManNAz for 3 d. Cellswere reacted with no reagent (FACS buffer), BARAC-biotin (compound 16)at varying concentrations in FACS buffer for 1 hour at 25° C., incubatedwith FITC-avidin, and analyzed by flow cytometry. The error barsrepresent standard deviations from three replicate samples (but are toosmall to see drawn to scale). MFI=mean fluorescence intensity and hasarbitrary units (Au).

FIG. 4( a)-(h) shows forward-scatter and side-scatter plots for celllabeling experiments according to embodiments of the present disclosure.Representative forward-scatter (x-axis, FSC-H) and side-scatter (y-axis,SSC-H) plots for the experiment shown in FIG. 8( b). Jurkat cells weretreated without (FIG. 4( a)-(d)) or with (FIG. 4( e)-(h)) 25 μMAc₄ManNAz for 3 d and then treated with no reagent ((FIGS. 4( a) and(e)) 1 μM DIBO-biotin (FIGS. 4( b) and (f)), 1 μM BARAC-biotin (FIGS. 4(c) and (g)), or 1 μM DIFO-biotin (FIGS. 4( d) and (h)) followed byFITC-avidin.

FIG. 5 shows a graph of a cytotoxicity analysis of BARAC-biotin(compound 16) according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Jurkatcells were incubated in the presence (+Az, black bar) or absence (−Az,gray bar) of Ac₄ManNAz for 3 d. Cells were reacted with no reagent (FACSbuffer) or BARAC-biotin (compound 16) (1 μM compound 16 in FACS buffer)for 1 h at 25° C., incubated with FITC-avidin, and washed. Prior to flowcytometry analysis, half the cells were treated with 7-amino-actinomycinD (7-AAD) following the procedure reported athttp://www.bdbiosciences.com/external_files/pm/doc/tds/cell_bio/live/web_enabled/68981E_(—)559925.pdf. The samples were diluted and analyzed by flowcytometry. The error bars represent standard deviations from threereplicate samples.

FIG. 6( a)-(d) shows FL3 vs. FL1 scatter plots for the flow cytometryexperiments described in FIG. 5 according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure. In all plots, the x-axis indicates the degree ofcell-surface glycan labeling as measured by FITC fluorescence (FL1). Forthe plots shown if FIG. 6( a)-(d), the y-axis represents the degree of7-AAD (FL3, cell viability marker). Jurkat cells were treated with((FIGS. 6( c) and (d)) or without (FIGS. 6( a) and (b)) 25 μM Ac₄ManNAzfor 3 d. The cells were then treated with no reagent (FIGS. 6( a) and(c)) or 1 μM BARAC-biotin (FIGS. 6( b) and (d)) for 1 h at 25° C.followed by FITC-avidin. Cells were then treated with 7-AAD and analyzedby flow cytometry.

FIG. 7 shows analytical HPLC graphs of purified BARAC-Fluor according toembodiments of the present disclosure. Method: 40% to 50% B from 1-2min, 50% to 75% B from 2-9 min, 75% to 95% B from 9-12 min Solvent A:water+0.1% trifluoroacetic acid; solvent B: acetonitrile+0.1%trifluoroacetic acid. Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 column (5 μM, 2.1×150 mm).

FIG. 8( a) shows structures of BARAC-biotin (compound 16) andBARAC-Fluor (compound 17) according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 8( b) and FIG. 8( c) show flow cytometry plots for livecell labeling experiments with BARAC-biotin according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure. Jurkat cells were incubated with (+Az) orwithout (−Az) 25 μM Ac₄ManNAz for 3 days. The cells were labeled with 1μM cyclooctyne-biotin for various times and then treated withFITC-avidin. Cyclooctyne-biotin probes used were DIBO-biotin,BARAC-biotin, or DIFO-biotin. The degree of labeling was quantified byflow cytometry. The level of fluorescence was reported in meanfluorescence intensity (MFI, arbitrary unit). Error bars represent thestandard deviation of three replicate experiments. FIG. 8( b) shows agraph of a comparison of the efficiencies of labeling of differentcyclooctyne reagents after 1 h. FIG. 8( c) shows a graph oftime-dependent labeling of cyclooctyne-biotin probes. MFI reported asdifference between signal of cells +Az and signal of cells −Az.

FIG. 9( a)-(p) shows fluorescence imaging of azide-labeled glycans onlive cells using BARAC-Fluor (compound 17) according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure. CHO cells were incubated with (FIG. 9( a)-(d)and FIG. 9( i)-(l)) or without (FIG. 9( e)-(h) and FIG. 9( m)-(p)) 50 μMAc₄ManNAz for 3 days. The cells were subsequently labeled with 5 μMBARAC-Fluor and Hoechst-33342 for 5 min and then washed and imaged (FIG.9( a)-(h)). The cells were subsequently labeled with 250 nM BARAC-Fluorfor 30 min and Hoechst-33342 and then imaged without washing (FIG. 9(i)-(p)). Channels shown are DIC (FIGS. 9( a), (e), (i), and (m)), DAPI(FIGS. 9( b), (f), (j), and (n)), FITC (FIGS. 9 (c), (g), (k), and (o))and DAPI/FITC merge ((FIGS. 9( d), (h), (l), and (p)).

FIG. 10( a) shows a scheme of a bioorthogonal reaction of cyclooctyneprobes with azide-labeled biomolecules that allows their interrogationin cell-based systems according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure. In FIG. 10( a), Cells are treated with azide-functionalizedmetabolic substrates. The azides are then detected with acyclooctyne-functionalized probe. FIG. 10( b) shows cyclooctynesdesigned for fast Cu-free click chemistry (compounds 1-3) and reactivitystudies (compound 4) according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows a scheme for the 6-step synthesis of a BARAC derivativefrom compound 9 and the labeling of an azide-labeled biomolecule withthe BARAC derivative.

FIG. 12 shows the crystal structure of BARAC.

FIG. 13 shows second order rate constants for the cycloaddition of BARACanalogs with benzyl azide.

While the present invention has been described with reference to thespecific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may besubstituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation, material, composition of matter, process, processstep or steps, to the objective, spirit and scope of the presentinvention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A compound of the formula:

wherein X¹-X⁸ are each independently selected from carbon and nitrogen;each L is a divalent moiety independently selected from alkylene,substituted alkylene, alkenylene, substituted alkenylene, alkynylene,substituted alkynylene, arylene, substituted arylene, cycloalkylene,substituted cycloalkylene, heteroarylene, substituted heteroarylene,heterocyclene, substituted heterocyclene, carboxamido, C₁ to C₇ acyloxy,urethanylene, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, —O—, —S—, —NH—, and substitutedamino; wherein substituents of the substituted divalent moieties areselected from carboxy, amino, halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano,trifluoromethyl, C₁ to C₇ alkyl, C₁ to C₇ alkoxy, C₁ to C₇ acyloxy,carboxamide, carboxymethyl, and hydroxymethyl; and wherein thesubstituted and unsubstituted heteroarylene and heterocyclene divalentmoieties are five or six-membered rings having 1 to 4 heteroatomsindependently selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur ring atoms; eachn is a number independently selected from zero to 40; and Y¹-Y³ areindependently selected from H; a group selected from a carboxyl, anamino, an alkoxycarbonyl, a RSC(O)—, a sulfonyl halide, a hydroxyl, analkoxy, an —SH, an N-succinimidyl ester, an isothiocyanate, aniodoacetamide, a maleimidyl, a hydrazinyl, a hydrazide, a halogen, acyano, a diazo, an azide, a guanidinyl, a sulfone, an epoxide, adiazirine, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a phosphine, a silane and analkylsulfonic acid; and a molecule of interest selected from adetectable label, a toxin, a peptide, a drug, a member of a specificbinding pair, an epitope tag and a strained azacycloalkynone group. 2.The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of formula III:

wherein each L is a divalent moiety independently selected fromalkylene, substituted alkylene, alkenylene, substituted alkenylene,alkynylene, substituted alkynylene, arylene, substituted arylene,cycloalkylene, substituted cycloalkylene, heteroarylene, substitutedheteroarylene, heterocyclene, substituted heterocyclene, carboxamido, C₁to C₇ acyloxy, urethanylene, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, —O—, —S—, —NH—, andsubstituted amino; wherein substituents of the substituted divalentmoieties are selected from carboxy, amino, halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano,trifluoromethyl, C₁ to C₇ alkyl, C₁ to C₇ alkoxy, C₁ to C₇ acyloxy,carboxamide, carboxymethyl, and hydroxymethyl; and wherein thesubstituted and unsubstituted heteroarylene and heterocyclene divalentmoieties are five or six-membered rings having 1 to 4 heteroatomsindependently selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur ring atoms; n isa number selected from zero to 40; each R is independently selected fromalkyl, substituted alkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, acylamino,acyloxy, amino, substituted amino, aminoacyl, aminoacyloxy,oxyaminoacyl, azido, cyano, halogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl, carboxylalkyl,—SH, aryl, aryloxy, hydroxyamino, alkoxyamino, nitro, —SO-alkyl,—SO-substituted alkyl, —SO-aryl, —SO-heteroaryl, —SO₂-alkyl,—SO₂-substituted alkyl, —SO₂-aryl and —SO₂-heteroaryl; whereinsubstituents are selected from carboxy, amino, halo, hydroxy, nitro,cyano, trifluoromethyl, C₁ to C₇ alkyl, C₁ to C₇ alkoxy, C₁ to C₇acyloxy, carboxamide, carboxymethyl, and hydroxymethyl; each a is anumber selected from zero to four; and Y is H; a group selected from acarboxyl, an amino, an alkoxycarbonyl, a RSC(O)—, a sulfonyl halide, ahydroxyl, an alkoxyl, an —SH, an N-succinimidyl ester, anisothiocyanate, an iodoacetamide, a maleimidyl, a hydrazinyl, ahydrazide, an aldehyde, a haloalkyl, a halogen, a cyano, a diazo, anazide, a guanidinyl, a sulfone, an epoxide, a diazirine, an alkenyl, analkynyl, a phosphine, a silane, and an alkylsulfonic acid; or a moleculeof interest selected from a detectable label, a toxin, a peptide, adrug, a member of a specific binding pair, an epitope tag and a strainedazacycloalkynone group.
 3. The compound of claim 2, wherein the compoundis of the formula:

wherein R is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, sulfonate, substitutedalkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heteroaryl,substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, substituted heterocyclyl,sulfonyl, sulfonamide, amino and substituted amino; wherein thesubstituted and unsubstituted heteroaryl and heterocyclyl are five orsix-membered rings having 1 to 4 heteroatoms independently selected fromoxygen, nitrogen and sulfur ring atoms; and wherein substituents areselected from carboxy, amino, halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano,trifluoromethyl, C₁ to C₇ alkyl, C₁ to C₇ alkoxy, C₁ to C₇ acyloxy,carboxamide, carboxymethyl, and hydroxymethyl.
 4. The compound of claim2, wherein the compound is of formula V:

wherein each L is a divalent moiety independently selected fromalkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, arylene, cycloalkylene, heteroarylene,heterocyclene, acylamino, C₁ to C₇ acyloxy, urethanylene, sulfonyl,sulfonamido, —O—, —S—, and —NH—, and wherein the heteroarylene andheterocyclene divalent moieties are five or six-membered rings having 1to 4 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfurring atoms; n is a number selected from zero to 40; and Y is H; a groupselected from a carboxyl, an amino, an alkoxycarbonyl, a RSC(O)—, asulfonyl halide, a hydroxyl, an —SH, an N-succinimidyl ester, anisothiocyanate, an iodoacetamide, a maleimidyl, a hydrazinyl, ahydrazide, an aldehyde, a haloalkyl, a halogen, a cyano, a diazo, anazide, a guanidinyl, a sulfone, an epoxide, a diazirine, an alkenyl, analkynyl, a phosphine, a silane, and an alkylsulfonic acid; or a moleculeof interest selected from a detectable label, a peptide, a member of aspecific binding pair and an epitope tag.
 5. The compound of claim 2,wherein the compound is of formula VI:

wherein: each L is a divalent moiety independently selected fromalkylene, substituted alkylene, alkenylene, substituted alkenylene,alkynylene, substituted alkynylene, arylene, substituted arylene,cycloalkylene, substituted cycloalkylene, heteroarylene, substitutedheteroarylene, heterocyclene, substituted heterocyclene, carboxamido, C₁to C₇ acyloxy, urethanylene, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, —O—, —S—, —NH—, andsubstituted amino; wherein substituents of the substituted divalentmoieties are selected from carboxy, amino, halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano,trifluoromethyl, C₁ to C₇ alkyl, C₁ to C₇ alkoxy, C₁ to C₇ acyloxy,carboxamide, carboxymethyl, and hydroxymethyl; and wherein thesubstituted and unsubstituted heteroarylene and heterocyclene divalentmoieties are five or six-membered rings having 1 to 4 heteroatomsindependently selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur ring atoms; n isa number selected from zero to 40; each R is independently selected fromalkyl, substituted alkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, acylamino,acyloxy, amino, substituted amino, aminoacyl, aminoacyloxy,oxyaminoacyl, azido, cyano, halogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl, carboxylalkyl,—SH, aryl, aryloxy, hydroxyamino, alkoxyamino, nitro, —SO-alkyl,—SO-substituted alkyl, —SO-aryl, —SO-heteroaryl, —SO₂-alkyl,—SO₂-substituted alkyl, —SO₂-aryl, —SO₂-heteroaryl; wherein substituentsare selected from carboxy, amino, halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano,trifluoromethyl, C₁ to C₇ alkyl, C₁ to C₇ alkoxy, C₁ to C₇ acyloxy,carboxamide, carboxymethyl, and hydroxymethyl; and each a is a numberselected from zero to four.
 6. The compound of claim 4, wherein thecompound is of one of the following structures:


7. The compound of claim 2, wherein the compound is of one of thefollowing structures:


8. The compound of claim 4, wherein: each L is a divalent moietyindependently selected from alkylene, arylene, cycloalkylene,heteroarylene, heterocyclene, C₁ to C₇ acyloxy, acylamino, urethanylene,sulfonyl, sulfonamido, —O—, —S—, and —NH—, and wherein the heteroaryleneand heterocyclene divalent moieties are five or six-membered ringshaving 1 to 4 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogenand sulfur ring atoms; n is a number selected from zero to 40; and Y isselected from H, a carboxyl, an amino, a hydroxyl, an alkoxycarbonyl, anN-succinimidyl ester, a RSC(O)—, an isothiocyanate, an iodoacetamide, amaleimidyl, a hydrazinyl, a hydrazide, a halogen, an epoxide, afluorophore, an epitope tag, and a biotin.